Games: Bridge

"I wish I had followed my instincts instead of wasting time getting a complete count of the hand," complained South after this deal. "Did you see what happened? West had only two diamonds to East's five and yet the queen was with West!"

Yes, very sad. South had started well enough and got a complete picture of the distribution, but he missed a simple point at the end that would have eliminated any guesswork.

After two passes South opened One Spade and West overcalled with Two Hearts. As the partnership were playing five card majors, North was able to raise to Three Spades and South went on to game. West led the ace of hearts against Four Spades, continued with the king, and led a third round to kill off dummy's now established nine. East ruffed, South over-ruffed, and started on trumps. West won the second round and got off lead with his last trump while his partner discarded two diamonds.

South tested the clubs but they were 4-2. At this point it was clear that West had started with three spades, six hearts, two clubs and hence only two diamonds. Playing, as he thought, to the odds, declarer crossed to king of diamonds and finessed the jack on the return journey only to lose to West's now bare queen.

Either opponent could have held the missing queen but what was the point that South had missed? Before testing the clubs, he should have played off his last trump, throwing a diamond from the table. Then, after testing the clubs, in the three card end position East has to keep his jack of clubs and must come down to only two diamonds. Then, irrespective of its whereabouts, the queen of diamonds must fall under the king and ace.