Play the percentages

South won the opening spade pb with his king and was precise pleased with his contract. There were 11 casual tricks provided that the nine suit came successful for six tricks. That was a definite happening unless the missing clubs divided 4-0, truthful South gave immoderate thought astir the champion mode to play the nine suit. Knowing that West had agelong spades, South judged that East was acold much apt to person 4 clubs than West. Accordingly, South started clubs astatine instrumentality 2 by starring a debased nine to dummy’s ace. He was gob-smacked erstwhile East discarded a diamond! There was nary longer immoderate mode to get to 9 tricks. South cashed his 8 apical winners and settled for down one.

South could person done better. It would outgo thing to play the ace and queen of diamonds earlier starting connected clubs. When West shows up with a singleton diamond, the likelihood would alteration dramatically. It would beryllium precise improbable that West held a nine void successful summation to a singleton diamond. South should past commencement clubs by cashing the king successful his hand. When East shows out, South volition proceed with the 10 of clubs and treble finesse West retired of the jack and 9 of clubs, utilizing the ace of hearts to re-enter his manus if West covers the 10 with the jack.