Deal Us In: Finding the correct defense is key

West leads the king of clubs, followed by the ace of clubs. East plays low-high, and South’s queen falls on the second trick. Some Wests see nothing but frustration when they see the dummy. How would you advise West to continue?

After cashing his king of clubs, West notes that it is next to impossible to get a trick in one of the side suits. On the ace of clubs, East completes his low-high signal, showing three of that suit, and South drops the queen of clubs. West is now sure that there is no club ruff for his side.

If there is no chance in either of the side suits, then the only chance is to build a second trump trick. The best way to do this is to continue with a club, giving South a sluff and ruff. This gets rid of a discard he cannot use. Dummy ruffs the third club, and declarer leads a trump back to his king and West’s ace of hearts. West continues with a fourth club, and East’s 10 of hearts completes the coup. South is forced to over-ruff, which promotes East’s nine of hearts for the setting trick.

Congratulations to West for finding the correct defense to set this contract.

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