This deal was played in one of my BMS (Bridge Made Simple) Games following my Thursday webinar. At just about every table the auction went 1N-3N and a 4th-best spade was led. How would you play when East puts up the 10? 

87  K107  KJ83  KQ32

AQJ  A5  10972  AJ109

In notrump we count sure tricks and there are now 8 of them (2 spades, 2 hearts and 4 clubs). It is the most normal thing in the world to lead the 10 and let it run. If West has the Q, there will be 3 diamond tricks for a total of 11 and likely a good matchpoint score of +660.

How does it work out? This was the Real Deal:

This was the Real Deal:

Vul:Both Dlr: South	87  K107  KJ83  KQ32
K9543  J64  A4  854		1062  Q9832  Q65  76
	AQJ  A5  10972  AJ109

In the 10, West correctly plays second-hand low (without pause for thought) and East wins the Q. The spade return now dooms the contract. Declarer has to lose 3 spades and 2 diamonds, a trick short.

What is the lesson? I am content with declarer's line of play at matchpoints (where overtricks are important), but it got me thinking.  What if this layout occurred in rubber bridge or IMPs -- where overtricks are not too important? The focus is on just making the contract for the vulnerable game bonus.

At that form of scoring, declarer should play differently. He should win the J and cross to the K at trick two to lead the 3. Why? This makes life "impossible" for East. Do you know any East players who would play second-hand high here and put up the queen? East would innocently play low and now declarer has the contract.

Why is this the right declarer play at IMPs? Because even if West has the Q, the contract is still assured (with an overtrick, in fact). The 3 would go to the 10 and hypothetical queen with West. Now the spades are protected and declarer can eventually knock out the A for 10 tricks.

So, at matchpoints, leading the 10 and going down was reasonable, but remember this position the next time you see it in a team/money game -- where overtricks aren't crucial.