Bridge

Opening lead — queen of clubs.

Assume you’re in four hearts and West leads the queen of clubs after having overcalled with one spade. You can see that the outcome is uncertain because if East has the king of diamonds, you might lose a diamond and three spades.

The obvious approach is to try the diamond finesse, but if it fails, you are almost certain to go down one. In situations of this type, where the fate of the hand seems to depend on the location of a particular card, it is wise to look for an alternative method of play that reduces or eliminates the luck element.

In the present case, there is a line of play available that does not depend strictly on the location of the king of diamonds. The proper way to begin is to let West’s queen of clubs hold the first trick!

This unusual play has much to recommend it. There is nothing West can do to harm you at trick two. His next play doesn’t matter, but let’s assume he leads another club.

You win with the king and cash the A-K of trump. Next you lead a diamond to the ace and discard the diamond jack on the ace of clubs.

Now you play the queen of diamonds, planning to discard a spade if East follows low. You don’t mind losing the queen to the king if West has it, because you can later discard another spade on the ten of diamonds.

If East happens to have the king of diamonds, you are on equally solid ground. You trump if East covers and discard if he doesn’t. Either way you wind up with 10 tricks consisting of six hearts, two diamonds and two clubs.