Q
One of the most difficult hands of the contest is shown today. South can make the contract against any defense, but he must start with an abnormal play. He must win the opening spade lead and knock out the ace of diamonds. Then he must take the second spade lead in dummy and lead a club to finesse the queen.
His next play is to return to dummy and lead a second club. If East comes up with the king, he is allowed to hold the trick. If East plays a low club, how ever, South takes the ace of clubs and then gives up a club trick to the king. This line of play gives South nine tricks, made up of three dubs and two in each of the other suits.
Now let’s see why the normal play of refusing the first spade rick will cost South the hand. South thinks he can make the same series of plays, but East has a trick up his sleeve. On the third spade lead, East makes the sensational discard of the king of clubs. After that play South can never make three club tricks without letting West in first.
Of course this is all double-dummyish. There aren’t many I players, whether college students or seasoned experts, who would think of ditching that king of clubs unless they knew in advance where all the cards were.
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