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Posted on Fri, Dec 14, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, December 14: Try to deceive with deception

By Philip Adler

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Sophocles, one of the three ancient Greek playwrights along with Aeschylus and Euripides, said, "Profit is sweet, even if it comes from deception."

That is especially true at the bridge table. Making or defeating a contract with a deceptive play is very sweet. The profit, assuming you are playing for money, is almost secondary.

In this deal, how should South play in three no-trump after West leads a fourth-highest heart four and East plays the 10?

North might have used Stayman because he has a weak doubleton and only minimum point-count for bidding game. But his weak spades dissuaded him.

South has seven top tricks: three hearts (given the lead), three diamonds and one club. If the club finesse is working, there will be an overtrick available. But what if that finesse is losing? A shift to spades will probably be fatal, the defenders taking one club and four spades.

As we saw yesterday, if declarer wins the first trick with his heart jack, plays a diamond to dummy's jack, and runs the club queen, West ought to find the killing defense.

It is time for some subterfuge. Although it is not without risk, South should take the first trick with his heart king! Then, after a diamond to the jack and a losing club finesse, West is highly likely to lead another heart, bringing declarer's jack back to life and letting South take three hearts, three diamonds and three clubs.

Yes, West could defeat the contract by not playing a second heart, but why would he do that? If East has the heart jack, as it seems, South then needs the spade king for his opening bid.

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