What happened at the Table?

Hand repeated for convenience

North
ª K J 10 x x
© x
¨ A x x x
§ Q 10 x

South
ª A Q 9 x x
© A Q x
¨ K x x
§ K x

 

You have 2 possible lines
1. Simply draw trumps and play a club to the king then finesse the club 10 to set up a discard for your losing diamond.

2. After 2 trumps, lead a club to the King. If this holds, return to table with a trump and take the heart finesse, ditch a club on the heart ace, ruff a heart, cash diamond A K and exit with a club. East with 2 diamonds or less is end played to give you a ruff and discard.

Declarer took line one and went off as East had the club jack.

In fact, the actual probability of success for line 2 is over 80% (mathematics supplied on request!). As East has 7 hearts, one trump and at least A x in clubs, there are only 3 vacant places left for diamonds and any remaining clubs. The club finesse, however, is only 70%

So line 2 is the winner.


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