Slight difference

Today’s woody is from a caller squad lucifer that featured immoderate of the champion players successful the world. Both tables reached 4 spades and the archetypal defence was the aforesaid astatine some tables: a bosom to the 9 and king. At 1 table, the declarer led a spade to the ace, a diamond backmost to his ace, and a spade to the king. There was nary reason, astatine either table, to instrumentality the spade finesse. Declarer past led a nine to his king, losing to West’s ace. West cashed the queen of spades and led a bosom to East’s ace. East led a debased diamond and South went with the percentages and took the diamond finesse. Down one!

At the different table, South was French adept Cedric Lorenzini. After winning the king of hearts astatine instrumentality one, helium led a spade to the ace, cashed the king, and led a debased bosom from dummy. East roseate with his ace and it was hard to spot the value of starring a nine astatine this point. East made the tenable play of a diamond. Lorenzini won with his ace, crossed to dummy with the queen of hearts, and led a spade to West’s queen. West had to pb a insignificant suit and either 1 would springiness South his contract. West chose to currency the ace of clubs and pb different club. Lorenzini discarded 2 diamonds from dummy connected his clubs and claimed his contract. Well done!