A friend who teaches at a local college says that those who fail History 101 are doomed to repeat it. Those who play to the first trick without thinking are doomed to go down - repeatedly.
In today's deal, South played low from the dummy on the first spade and ruffed in his hand. He drew trumps and led the K-A and a low diamond. He'd have been safe if East had won the third diamond, but West won and led a club, and East took two clubs to beat the contract.
"It was a good save," South remarked. "Four spades was cold."
So was five hearts. South must plan at trick one - and then play the dummy's jack of spades. When East covers, South discards a diamond. South ruffs the next spade, draws trumps, takes the top diamonds and ruffs a diamond. He can then return to the dummy with a trump to discard two clubs on the good diamonds. He loses one club at the end.
If South carelessly plays low from the dummy on the first spade, East can also play low. The contract is unmakable.
(C) 2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc.