“For the wrong that needs resistance, For the future in the distance, And the good that I can do.” – George Linnaeus Banks

On the lead of the spade jack against three no-trump, South covered in reflex fashion with dummy’s queen, although ducking would have worked better today. He played low from hand when East’s king appeared, then took the next spade trick and passed the club two around to East.

That left declarer able to win the diamond return, test the clubs, and claim nine tricks when they split. No one at the table noticed the blunder that had let the contract make. Did you?

The key play was that West should have covered the club two with his 10. If declarer lets the 10 hold, West has the spade suit to cash, and if South covers the 10 with dummy’s king, he no longer has any entries to dummy to reach the good clubs. Of course, if declarer had Q-9-2 of clubs facing K-7-6-5-3, rising with the 10 might jeopardize a trick in clubs. But this play could hardly cost the contract since there would be no side entry to dummy.

Note that if declarer cashes the club ace at trick three, East has to unblock an honor to defeat the hand. Otherwise, South ducks a club to him in safety. But when East unblocks, West’s club 10 again causes declarer the same problem. He cannot duck the club and leave West on play, and he cannot capture the club 10 in dummy or he loses the entry to the long suit.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Your partner’s double is for takeout, showing a good hand. Your values are perfectly located on offense, but you do not know which minor suit will be best. Instead of guessing, bid four no-trump, asking partner to choose between the minors. Your call shows something very much like your actual minor-suit shape.