BE IMAGINATIVE

By Derek Rimington

How does one play this card combination?

K 4 7 5

Beginners are taught to lead towards their high cards. Hence the seven or the five towards the king is recommended. Can it ever be correct to lead the four? If you think not, regard this deal:

Dealer: West. Game All.     A 7 4 2   Q 9 8 4   K 4   A K 7     K 8 3   A 7 5   J 10 6 2   J 10 9   5   J 6 3   A Q 9 8 3   6 4 3 2     Q J 10 9 6   K 10 2   7 5   Q 8 5

West	North	East	South
Pass	1 (1)	Pass	1
Pass	3	Pass	4
End

1 The correct opening bid with 4-4 in the major suits if 1NT is not systemic.

West led the J. South won with the queen and successfully finessed the Q and then the J. On the third round dummy had to win.

South cashed the A-K, and then led the 4 to his king and West's ace. A switch to the J and dummy's king lost to the ace. A low diamond came back to the ten and left South a trick short.

This was good defence but was South simply unlucky at guessing? No, it was poor play. After cashing the top clubs, South should exit with the 4. The defence win two diamonds but must then open up the hearts.

On my next deal, South played a defeatist game. He saw four losers but took no account of the clues in the bidding to eliminate one of them:

Dealer: East. E/W Vul.     J 10 7 5   Q 9 6 2   K 8 7 2   8     K   K J 10 8 5 3   9 6 4 3   Q 7   Q 4   4   A J 10   A 10 9 6 5 3 2     A 9 8 6 3 2   A 7   Q 5   K J 4

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	1	1
2	2	Pass	4
End

West led the Q. East won with the ace and switched to his singleton heart. South played low, so West won with the king and gave his partner a heart ruff. Now the A was the defenders' fourth trick.

This was another example of unimaginative play. A heart ruff was very probable and the best chance was to find East with a singleton heart and all the possible entries.

Following this assumption. South should win with the A, cash the A and the K and ruff his winning J. Now a low diamond from dummy forces East to withhold his ace. South wins with the queen and exits with a trump to endplay East. A club gives South a ruff and discard. while a diamond return establishes the K for a heart discard.

Although my theme has been imagination, the more important aspect is elimination and endplay.