Bridge: God save the king

This weekend — especially this weekend — a king proves a fine card to play. On today’s deal, it forms part of a story declarer wants to tell for, without it, the opponents will triumph.

Bidding
Dealer: East
Love All

3NT was played throughout the room and, generally, succeeded. When it was beaten it was usually because a king did not appear at trick 1.

West led 5♥. Declarer counts two hearts, five clubs and, once A♦ is dislodged, two diamond tricks. When an opponent wins A♦, declarer does not want a spade switch, since this could — and does — lead to four spade losers and the failure of 3NT. To that end, declarer wants to win trick 1 — and win it with K♥.

By doing so, South occludes the position of A♥ whereas, if South wins the first trick with A♥, both opponents can be pretty certain that he also holds the king. This is because, if declarer had held ♥Ax or ♥Axx, he would probably have ducked at least one round. If the opponents know that South started with ♥AK, they will almost certainly search for the setting tricks from spades.

Declarer should also set up tricks eight and nine before taking his five club tricks. If the club suit is cashed, this will give West the chance to signal that he holds decent spades whereas, if diamonds are first broached, only a complex defensive system can impart that information.