Certain card combinations require close inspection before declarer decides precisely how to tackle the suit. South failed to make the necessary effort in today’s deal and lost his contract as a result.

West led the four of diamonds, which was covered by the six, seven and ten. Declarer crossed to dummy with a heart, led the eight of clubs and finessed, losing to West’s queen.

West returned the king of diamonds, ducked by South, and followed with the queen, taken by the ace. Declarer could then do no better than lead a second club. West won with the ace and cashed the 8-2 of diamonds to set the contract, scoring three diamonds and two club tricks in all.

Had declarer paid more attention to his diamond holding at the outset, he would have made the contract with an overtrick. Assuming West was leading his fourth-best diamond, the Rule of Eleven would have indicated the winning play.

South should simply subtract four — the spot-card led — from eleven, which reveals that there are seven cards higher than the four in the North, East and South hands. Since declarer can see six of these cards in his own hand and dummy, East can have only one card higher than the four.

South should therefore play the nine of diamonds from dummy at trick one. If East’s diamond is the seven or eight, the nine will hold the trick, and declarer will still have the suit doubly stopped. If East produces the king or queen of diamonds, South takes the ace and again has diamonds doubly stopped.

Declarer’s aim from the start is to establish his clubs before West can establish his diamonds. By playing a higher diamond from dummy initially, South assures himself of winning the race.

Tomorrow >> Famous Hand.

— Steve Becker