Do not be blind to the cards' data

Somerset Maugham claimed "You learn more quickly under the guidance of experienced teachers. You waste a lot of time going down blind alleys if you have no one to lead you."

That must be true, but at the bridge table, when there is no one to guide you, do not be blind to the information available from the calls made and cards played.

In this deal, South is in three no-trump. West leads the heart six: eight, five (starting a high-low to show an even number), nine. How should declarer continue?

After South opens one no-trump, North should respond two hearts, a transfer bid indicating at least zero points and five spades. Then, North might rebid three no-trump, but that could work out very badly if South has weak hearts. So, North rebids three diamonds, which is natural and game-forcing.

South starts with seven top tricks: one spade, one heart (trick one), four diamonds and one club. He can get the extra winners from either black suit－but on which should he play?

Let's look at the first trick. East was playing third hand high, but didn't beat dummy's eight. Why not? Because he couldn't. West has the heart ace-queen hovering over South's king-jack. If East gets on lead, a heart return will kill the contract. So, the spade finesse should not be taken. Instead, declarer should lead a low diamond to dummy's nine and play a club to his 10 (allowing for East's having the jack and king). When the finesse wins, South returns to dummy with a diamond, takes a second club finesse, and here wins 11 tricks.