Two Categories


9 8 7
J 10 6 3
A 4
A J 8 4
J 4 3 2 K Q 6
9 8 7 4
K Q 9 6 2 3 2
K 9 6 7 3
A 10 5
A K Q 5 2
J Contract: 4 hearts
Q 10 5 2 Opening lead: 9 of hearts

The defenders "violated" two principles here, and I might as well place this under each category. The other one is "Only Suit Left". Declarer took the opening lead and continued hearts to the third round, West sluffing the 9 of diamonds and then a spade. Declarer now cashed the A of diamonds and ruffed a diamond, then led four rounds of clubs, picking up the K, of course as West discarded a spade. A spade. Why oh why? That was trick 9 when he had the K Q of diamonds, which declarer is out of in each hand, and three spades (before the discard). And dummy is showing three spades.
Why on earth! Was he befuddled by the nominal value of a K & Q vs. a mere J 4 3? Dunno, but it's not a good idea when he certainly should be thinking of where his side might get a trick or two. And diamonds won't do it. Now declarer led a spade from dummy, and East contributed to the debacle by splitting his honors. This was a more excusable play, of course, but that's what did it to allow a 12th trick.Declarer now cashed the A of spades and continued the suit, West winning, and now with the K Q of diamonds, could only give declarer a sluff&ruff. Far from being powerful cards, those superfluous diamonds actually cost a trick where the 4 of spades under the J would not have. Nor could East overtake to advantage, for that would merely establish the 10 of spades. Oh, me. How could two defenders conspire to give up that trick so carefully?
Should East have split his spade honors? It's perhaps too easy to say no, on the ground that if declarer has the A J low, he could've led toward that holding earlier, indeed, should have if he was going to play East for the K Q. And if he's got A J 10, well, East has only one spade trick coming anyway and will get it on the duck. Still, West has to be named the main goat here. Declarer has no more diamonds! Isn't that a sufficient reason not to hang onto them?