Hand XX
Defensive trump lead, and playing to the score.
The Play
Remark (Trick 1).—A defensive trump lead, to avoid opening a three card suit.
Remark (Trick 4).—A’s finesse is unlucky. He is, however, clearly justified in not parting with the command of trumps, as, even if the finesse does not succeed, he remains with the last trump, will be led up to in one of his guarded suits, and will, in all probability, bring in his partner’s diamonds.
Tricks 9 to 13.—A leads the queen of diamonds, and finds his partner with the entire command of diamonds (see B’s hand below).
AB score three by cards and two by honours.
The Hands
(A’s hand is given above.)
| Y’s Hand. | B’s Hand. | Z’s Hand. | |||
| 8, 7, 4, 3, 2 | ♠ | 10 | ♠ | Ace, Qn, 9, 6 | ♠ |
| Kg, 10, 9, 4 | ♥ | 7, 6, 3 | ♥ | Ace, Knv, 5 | ♥ |
| Knv, 7, 6 | ♣ | Ace, Kg, 2 | ♣ | 9, 8, 4 | ♣ |
| 8 | ♦ | A, Kg, Knv, 4, 3, 2 | ♦ | 10, 9, 6 | ♦ |
It may be observed that Z loses the game by bad play at Trick 7. The fall of the cards in Tricks 5 and 6 shows that A has the queen of hearts, and Y the king. Z should therefore, at Trick 7, lead the ace of spades to make the fourth trick, and then the heart, making the fifth trick and saving the game.
At Trick 8, if Y leads a spade and Z does not finesse, the game may be saved. To finesse at that point would be very bad play, as the ace of spades makes the fifth trick. But Y’s play at Trick 8, though unfortunate, is not wrong; for Y cannot tell that Z has the ace of spades; indeed, the presumption is that he has not, or he would have led it. Y properly plays to force the long trump, and to make his partner fourth player.