From                   11th April, 2007, Board 6

                                          Theme                An Extra Chance

                                          Difficulty            * * *

                                          Dlr East              E-W Vul

West leads the A♥, and then shifts to the Q♣.  This one looks straightforward enough, the contract appears to depend on the K♦ being onside, something which appears virtually impossible considering the bidding.  Or is there an extra chance?

SOLUTION

Unless East has opened on an 8-count, we’d be better off trying to drop the singleton K♦, but that’s quite a long shot, and before we try that there’s one other possibility.  After drawing trumps, we can try leading towards the Hearts on the board.  If the Ten appears from West then we’ll have a ruffing finesse position in the suit.  East will win and get out with a low Club to West’s Jack, but when the Diamond is returned we will jump up with the Ace and take the ruffing Heart finesse for the Diamond pitch.

Keys to Success

   - Counting East's points and realizing that the Diamond finesse is destined to fail

   - Before praying for the singleton K♦ with East, trying for that extra chance in Hearts

Postscript

Note that at Trick One it wouldn’t be a good idea to duck the first round of Clubs, hoping to catch East in an end-play when he wins the second round of Hearts.  West will scotch that plan by promptly shifting to a Diamond, taking away the "extra chance".

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