Before we move on to another topic, there were a couple of comments and questions arising. One reader commented “I prefer Norma’s solution to Johnny’s, because Johnny’s is putting all the eggs in the one basket.” That is not so, because playing two top spades will almost certainly make no difference to the play IF the queen does not drop. But if it does, then playing on clubs ensures nine tricks. Not only that, it will give declarer a good idea which minor suit he should continue with after the spades, because the discards on the last two spades will tell declarer a lot. I then added that unless defenders lie in their discards, declarer will know which minor suit ace East holds. For instance, if East has the ace of diamonds, East will signal in that suit, or, as happens in the deal that we have here, East will discard a diamond on the third spade. But another diamond discard, if declarer is counting, will now make playing on diamonds not only safe but guaranteed to produce an overtrick. Let’s look again:
Dealer E NS Vul
J86
J754
53
AK93
