Whether you are playing the stock market or the game of bridge, timing is everything. These series of articles were written by Eric Kokish and his wife Beverly Kraft
Beverly Kraft

Beverly Kraft

Whether you are playing the stock market or the game of bridge, timing is everything. Play 4Spade Suit on the lead of the Diamond SuitQ. Neither side vulnerable East deals
Spade Suit A K 7 Heart Suit6 3 Diamond Suit 9 8 7 4 2 club suit 8 6 5
 
Spade Suit Q J 10 9 2 Heart Suit K 9 4 Diamond Suit A K club suit K Q J
West North East South
    Pass 1Spade Suit
Pass 2Spade Suit Pass 4Spade Suit
End      
Opening Lead: Diamond SuitQ You can count nine tricks after the club suitA is deposed. Unless diamonds are three-three (with three-two trumps) the tenth must come from hearts. If the Heart SuitA is onside the king will provide the game-going trick and a heart ruff will secure an overtrick. That’s straightforward enough; to follow this line you would cross to dummy in trumps to lead a heart towards the king. Is there any real danger in this plan? Yes, there is. This is what will transpire: West takes the Heart SuitK with the ace and leads a second trump. When you play a second heart East will win and lead a third trump. You will be left with a third losing heart (and a sure club loser) and will take only nine tricks. When the form of scoring does not place much emphasis on small total-point differences it is of primary importance to ensure your contract before thinking about overtricks. In order to stay a tempo ahead of the defence you cannot afford to play a round of trumps yourself. At trick two lead a heart from hand. If the defence switches to trumps, win the king in dummy and lead a heart towards your king. If the ace is on your right you won’t need a heart ruff in dummy, but on a layout like the one in the diagram West will win and lead a second trump. Win in hand, ruff a heart with the Spade SuitA, and go about your business, drawing the last trump when you reach your hand. You will lose only two hearts and the club suit A. Regardless of the location of the Heart SuitA your opponents will not have the timing to deprive you of the vital heart ruff. There are some other dangers on the deal (possible ruffs in clubs or diamonds or a four-one trump break in combination with a poor minor-suit lie) but depriving yourself of the “sure” heart ruff would be too painful to bear. The four hands were:
Spade Suit A K 7 Heart Suit 6 3 Diamond Suit 9 8 7 4 2 club suit 8 6 5
Spade Suit 6 5 Heart Suit A 10 7 5 Diamond Suit Q J 10 3 club suit A 7 3   Spade Suit 8 4 3 Heart Suit Q J 8 2 Diamond Suit 6 5 club suit 10 9 4 2
Spade Suit Q J 10 9 2 Heart Suit K 9 4 Diamond Suit A K club suit K Q J