BRIDGE
Delaying tactics
Andrew Robson An experienced declarer loses his cer- tain losers early in the hand and delays broaching suits in which he has decisions to make until as late as possible. The infor- mation he has gleaned will enhance his chances of making the correct decision.
Watch Emma Keswick threading her way carefully through this week's hand.
Dealer South Neither side vulnerable
• Q 7 5 4 ♦ J 6 5 • A 105 4 • 4 3
• K J 9 3 V9 4
• 8 7 + K J 9 7 5 A 6 2 ♦ K Q 8 • K J 3 • A Q 2
4 108 V A 107 2
• Q 9 6 2 • 108 6 3 N W E
S
The Bidding
South West North East
1V pass 14 pass 3NT pass pass pass West led +7 to East's ten and Emma's 400. At trick two she led VK, driving out her certain loser and establishing at least two ♦s. East won ♦A and led +10 which Emma ducked. She won the next f per- force discarding a 4 from dummy, and broached •s by leading •J and running it when West played low. She played •s in this fashion because she did not mind East winning •Q as he had no •s remaining. Having won •Q, East switched to 410. Emma rose with her 4A and led •K and a • to dummy's •A and cashed •10, West discarding 49 and 4J and declarer also dis- carding a 4. Needing to make a third • trick for her contract, she continued by cashing dummy's ♦J, felling West's ♦9, and lead- ing dummy's remaining • to East's V7. Should she play VQ, hoping V10 will fall from West, or finesse ♦8? West held three cards left, two of which were known to be 4s and the third almost certainly 4K judg- ing from the defence to date. With no room for ♦10, Emma finessed V8. VQ was her ninth trick.
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