In bridge success comes to those who think constructively with a fair bit of logic. Today's hand is a typical example. Let me give you first only the North-South cards with the bidding for you to work out the solution.
(Opening Lead is 8S) Over to you. When you pause to plan your 9 tricks, I guess it would seem to you that there is not much of a problem it is obvious that the diamond finesse is essential if the contract of 3NT is to succeed as you already have gained an extra trick in spades. Without the diamond finesse it seems difficult to bring home the contract of 9 tricks.
But what if the finesse fails? On winning the DK, East would return a spade to knock out your ace; and 4 diamond tricks, 2 clubs and 2 spades would only give you 8 tricks. From where can you get the 9th tricks? The only chance then would be if the KH scores before the opponents can run the spades.
Surely West, holding AH is not likely to duck when he has his spades cleared with 3 quick tricks for the take, which, coupled with the K of diamonds would make 4 tricks for the defence.
The downing trick would of course be AH which in no way would be ducked by any West perched in that favourable position. Those of us who have little patience to think constructively at bridge and make deductions logically would not waste a moment's thought after taking the first spade with 10S to plunge into the diamond finesse straight away with of course, quite a bit of apprehension in lieu of the bidding where West has promised both majors by his 2C Bid, which leaves, East with far greater odds to hold the KD. The finesse in diamonds has therefore less odds to succeed.
At bridge, assumption of the lie of cards based on opponents; bidding and distribution is the key to the winning line of play. Let us sum up the declarer's chances of making this contract and do some constructive thinking with reasonable, logical assumptions about the lie of cards with the opponents. West has over called 2C showing both majors which leaves East with very few points. But still it would be a fair assumption that out of the 2 key cards for this contract of 3 NT, West is less likely to hold both the AH and the KD as he already holds the KJ of spades and his bid shows shortness in diamonds. The logical assumption then is that West is less likely to hold KD than AH, but even more less likely to hold both.
Once, this assumption is made, the solution begins to unfold with logical thinking. Surely if we assume that KD has more chances of being with East than West, then we know with assumption that the Ace of Hearts would lie with West and therefore, the king of Hearts is there for the plucking. In bridge the ratio of success can increase only when you get your timing right in play. Taking the Diamond finesse first would be too late for the Heart King to strike gold and you would fail in your contract when the diamond finesse fails. Do you see the logical solution now? Yes, at trick 2, play to the King of Hearts in Dummy.
THE EAST-WEST HANDS ARE SHOWN BELOW:
It would do no good for West to hop with the Ace of Hearts and play spades as then he would have no entry to run his spades. Once he ducks the ace of hearts to give dummy the KH, declarer can come back with clubs to now take the losing diamond finesse with confidence. For with 4 diamonds, 2 spades, 2 clubs and KH, declarer has his 9 ticks. Positive thinking is the key to success at Bridge!
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North West East South
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Q 32 KJ 986 75 A 104
K 106 A 85 Q 973 J 4
A 10865 - K 432 QJ 97
104 Q 986 J 32 AK 75
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THE BIDDING:
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West North East South
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P P P INT
2 C 3 NT All Pass -
(for Majors)
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