There is a vast difference between playing a hand when you see all 52 cards and playing a hand when you see only 26. But bridge being the kind of game it is, you are expected to play the great majority of hands just as effectively seeing only 26 cards as when seeing all 52.

Suppose you’re South in six spades on this deal and West leads a diamond. The deuce is obviously a singleton, and the problem is that you must avoid the loss of two diamond tricks if you are to make the slam.

The outlook is certainly not promising. The only realistic hope would seem to be that the opposing hearts are divided 3-3, in which case you could get rid of your diamonds on dummy’s hearts. But that possibility can’t come to fruition unless you can overcome the problem of finding an entry to dummy after you’ve established the hearts.

A little ingenuity, however, might do the trick. So, you win the diamond lead with the ace, play a heart to the king and lead a low trump. Then, after West produces the queen, you let him win it!

This extraordinary play puts the defense out of commission. If West returns a heart, you ruff in your hand and make the rest of the tricks by discarding three diamonds on dummy’s hearts, using the ace of spades as an entry. And if West returns a club instead of a heart, the outcome is the same. In that case, you ruff in dummy and establish the hearts to make the contract.

All it takes is your willingness to allow West to win a trick with his queen of spades. Once you do that, you are home free. The only real trick is to think of it.

Tomorrow >> Famous Hand.

— Steve Becker