Sunday, November 10, 2002		Bridge

Declarers should have played a low heart

HOW would you have played 6C on a diamond lead? At both tables of a recent match the contract was misplayed. The declarers crossed to the ace of spades and took a successful finesse of the queen of hearts.

They both played the ace of hearts next and suffered the shock of West ruffing. One West was bright enough to return a trump and declarer could not then ruff his remaining heart losers. One down. The other West let declarer off the hook by playing a diamond. Declarer could then recover the situation with a crossruff. The line that both declarers missed? When the queen of hearts won they should have played a low heart! They could then win the trump switch with the queen and crossruff in the red suits. After drawing trumps, declarer would be able to claim the slam.