Today’s deal was played during the National Open Teams. Virtually alltables reached three no trump by South with a low heart lead fromWest. South captured East’s jack with the queen and most of the Southplayers crossed to dummy with a club and led a low diamond to their queen.West won this with his ace and continued with a low heart to keepcommunication open with his partner.
South was back in his hand with the 10 of hearts and had to guess whether to lead a diamond to dummy’s nine or take the spade finesse. Having started on diamonds already, most declarers chose a diamond to the nine and lost three diamonds and two hearts for down one.
South African expert Bernard Donde, took a different approach. He saw that he could try both finesses if he timed it right. Donde led a diamond to the nine at trick two. Had this forced the ace or king, he would have continued diamonds later to build the needed tricks in that suit.
When this lost to the 10, Donde knew his only chance was the spade finesse. That finesse was successful and Donde won a game swing for his team.
