Bridge

This month in my Tuesday columns I shall be running some deals from a recently published book by Omar Sharif. As well as being a fine actor, he knows his way around the game. Here, in three spades, he played the part of the hero (a role he is not unfamiliar with).

West led a top diamond and switched to a trump to East’s ace, aiming to prevent South from scoring any diamond ruffs. Back came the spade two. How would you have played the contract?

See what happens if you cross to a top heart to finesse in clubs. West wins with the club king and returns another heart, knocking out the last entry to dummy while the club suit is blocked. If you try a diamond to the jack next, West will be able to win and lead another trump, leaving you with just eight tricks.

Although East might have held the club king, Omar saw that there was no need to finesse in clubs. Instead he led the club queen from his hand (better than playing ace then queen of clubs, in case there was a ruff coming to the defense). West won with the club king and played another club, but the contract could not be beaten. Declarer simply drew the last trump, unblocked the remaining club honor from his hand, and crossed to dummy with a heart to discard a diamond loser on the club 10.

“Omar Sharif Talks Bridge” is published by Finesse Bridge and available from Baron Barclay Bridge Supplies.

Bid with the aces

South holds:

Answer: Temporize with three diamonds, rather than going past three no-trump by raising to four clubs. Yes, your diamond support is unremarkable, but in these auctions it pays to let partner tell you why he forced to game. Maybe he will bid three no-trump if you let him do so.