March 2006 - 49

INTERMEDIATE PLAYERS

Claim with
Colchamiro
Do no harm - part 2
Last month we discussed "The
Hippocratic Oath and Marathon
Man" and that we have a choice on
defense as to whether to "go for it"
or try to be conservative and "do
no harm." Before we shift to or
continue a suit, we should ask, "Is
it safe?"
Recently this hand came up and
it shows why "doing no harm" is
often the best approach against suit
contracts.
Dlr: South  7 6
Vul: None  K J 7 2
J43
 K 10
K54
J8
N
 10 6 4
A Q 8
W E
K875
Q962
S
A J 4
987653
 A Q 10 9 3 2
953
 A 10
Q2
West

North

Pass
1NT
All Pass

East
Pass

South
1
2

I led a heart and declarer played
the jack from the dummy (low
by him would have been better).
Partner won the Q and returned a
low diamond. This was a risky play.
If declarer's A 10 had been the
K 8 and my K 8 had been the
A 10, the diamond play would
have enabled declarer to play low
from his hand, thereby losing only
one diamond trick, instead of the
two he would lose if he had to play
the suit for himself.
Rule: When the dummy on your
right has a jack-high suit, it is risky
March 2006

to lead low from the queen.
On this actual hand, however,
playing a diamond was safe. A spade
play would have also been safe.
Rule: When the dummy on your
right has a suit with no high cards, it
is always safe for a defender to play
that suit. It may not be productive,
but it will never do harm.
Declarer played the 10 and I
won the king. Partner now expected
that I would return a heart and trap
dummy's king. Instead I returned a
diamond and she played the nine.
Declarer won the ace and led a
sneaky low club toward the board.
I played low and declarer won
with dummy's king and led a spade
to his queen which I won with king.
Again, I didn't lead a heart but
instead returned a diamond.
If partner started with the A Q
9, I could safely lead a heart. On
many other layouts, including the
actual one, I knew that if I returned
a heart, declarer could play low,
forcing partner to play her ace,
establishing declarer's 9 as a
winner. If I led the 10, declarer
could cover with the king which
also establishes his 8. I could see
there was no rush - heart tricks
would be there later since no
discards were available to declarer.
Rule: Be sure it is safe to play a
suit, or at least understand the risks.
Ask yourself: "Do I have to play
this suit now, or can it wait?"
Declarer ruffed the diamond and
led the Q. I won the ace of clubs
and exited with a spade.

Mel Colchamiro
mcolch@optonline.net

Declarer drew trump and
eventually had to lead hearts
himself. The position was:

-
 10 6
8
J

-
K72
-
 10
N

W E
S

32
95
-
-

-
A 8
Q
9

He tried leading the 9 from his
hand, but I carefully covered with
the 10 and partner's 8 took the
setting trick.
r

District 21 appointees
District 21 Director Roger Smith has
appointed the following to the ACBL
Goodwill and Charity Committees:
Goodwill Committee
Nancy Zakim, Kentfield CA
Hansa Narasimhan, Los Altos Hills CA
Ann Hill, Citrus Heights CA
Frances Dickman, San Jose CA
Charity Committee
Marion Robertson, San Francisco CA
Leigh Tibbetts, Modesto CA

49
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2006
