Hi Dear Mr Wolff
Well played hand but had south seen the communication problem initially, he could have discarded his diamond on East’s club winner on lead, ruff the return from east and pass heart eight. East wins and say returns a minor suit, south ruffs and can unblock hearts before playing K of spades . East cannot put his partner on lead for a heart ruff and south scores ten tricks
Regards

Hi AVRR,

All true, but how many might declarer go down (vulnerable) if his heart finesse for the jack failed and the trump suit broke in an untimely way?

However, sometimes in bridge, in many things like in business and love, big gambles need to take place in order to be happy or/and be successful in bridge and to the victor go the spoils. In addition, by ruffing the first club, the defense may not know as much about declarer’s hand and thus not defend it to best advantage.

All the above does not take away the advantage from your alternate line, but what did happen was decidedly spectacular and methinks, did deserve the award it achieved.

Thanks for both your analysis and, as always giving your best effort. All who are interested in best play are going to be interested in comparing lines of play.

AVRR,
ever the keen eye!
I like your line better than the column line.

Regards,
Michael

Hi Dear Mr Wolff
South anyway is down if the heart eight loses to J. He loses two hearts, trump A apart from the club trick he lost. Perhaps east could have returned remaining heart after winning A making his intentions clear for a heart ruff. But now winning line ( indicated in the column) should be obvious. And I was just wondering why would happen in four hearts. Looks like it always goes down if west can lead a spade even if south guesses the heart J . There is no way south can avoid a spade ruff. East ducks the spade lead and als the first heart. The combinations Bridge offers provide for excellent mental stimulation.
And Michael: thanks but I think that I am being plain inquisitive
Regards

Not why would but what would happen
Again autocorrect from mobile
Regards

Aaaah…

And I was just about to ask the question, “What happens if I, as South, choose to throw my lone diamond on that first club?”

I see that it was not such a crackpot idea after all…

Hi David,

Yes sir, and aren’t you glad you tune in to this
site, with the idea of it being almost a daily guide to both interesting stories and intelligent bridge ideas.

All with a basic effort of improving one’s game which in turn, might lead to spreading the word about our sophisticated pass time, which also happens to be both challenging and above all, fun.