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Posted on Tue, May 8, 2012 : 5 a.m.

Bridge column, May 8: The siren's lure of the overtrick

By Phillip Alder

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Ava Gardner said, "Because I was promoted as a sort of a siren and played all those sexy broads, people made the mistake of thinking I was like that off the screen. They couldn't have been more wrong."

At the bridge table, players are often tempted by the siren's song to try for an overtrick, even when it jeopardizes their contract. Unless you are playing in a pair event or board-a-match, where overtricks are often vital, you should take the safe line to home.

This deal presents an example. In three no-trump after West leads his fourth-highest diamond, how would Ulysses, unable to resist the lure of the sirens, have played, and how would one of his safety-conscious crewmen have steered the cards?

It was reasonable for North to use Stayman, hoping to uncover a 4-4 heart fit.

It was dangerous for West to lead from his diamond holding into a no-trump opener. But the best chance to defeat the contract is to find partner with the diamond queen or ace. (If West is psychic and leads a club, and East is equally clairvoyant, winning with his ace and shifting to a diamond, South survives by taking his ace and driving out the heart ace.)

Declarer has six top tricks: four spades and two diamonds (given trick one). Needing only three more winners, he should play on hearts. But Ulysses would hope for luck in clubs, playing on that suit at trick two. Here, though, East would grab dummy's jack with his ace and return a diamond. Then the contract could no longer be made.

Resist temptation.

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