A careful declarer will formulate a plan before playing to the first
trick. However, that plan may have to be modified as the hand
develops. Take a look at this example.
Scoring: IMPs
Hand #56
Dlr
S
Vul
E-W
42
Q1084
A6
K10953
1086
K763
QJ1097
4
K973
AJ5
84
J876
AQJ5
92
K532
AQ2
West
North
East
South
1NT
Pass
2
Pass
2
Pass
3NT
All Pass
BIDDING: South had a
standard 1NT opener and North used Stayman to look for a possible heart
fit. South showed four spades but denied holding four hearts, so
North leaped to game on the basis of his nine high card points and
five-card club suit.
PLAY: West led the queen of diamonds and South stopped to
count his tricks. This was a team game so overtricks were not a
concern. He could count one spade, two diamonds, and very likely
five clubs with the spade suit offering a source for the extra
trick. There were few entries to dummy so declarer won the first
trick in his hand. He then played the ace and queen of clubs but
stopped when West discarded a heart on the second round. Now
South only had four club tricks so he now needed three spade
tricks. To finesse twice in spades meant creating another entry
to dummy so declarer overtook the club queen with the king to lead a
low spade toward his hand. He won the trick with the spade jack
and next led a club to dummy's ten. East won the jack but
declarer now had nine tricks. The ace of diamonds was an entry
back to dummy to cash the last two clubs and then repeat the spade
finesse.
Note the importance of keeping the diamond ace in dummy to be used as a
later entry. Many contracts are lost due to hasty play at trick
one.
