Niels Bohr said, “The opposite of a correct statement is a false statement. But the opposite of a profound truth may well be another profound truth.”

Yesterday’s column featured a play by declarer to give an opponent a chance to err and cede a contract that seemed destined to fail. Today’s deal is in the same realm, but features a different tactic.

What should happen in six spades after West leads the heart queen?

East opened with a weak two-bid that would not please the purists – but bridge purists are on the World Wildlife Fund’s list of critically endangered species. (East’s suit was weak, and he had two aces.) In the long run, it pays to pre-empt whenever you can. In particular, enjoy watching your opponents squirm in their seats. Here, though, South, who thought he had 12 sure tricks, jumped straight to six spades.

After the dummy comes down, South should realize that West has led a singleton. East showed a six-card suit in the bidding, there are four in the dummy, and declarer has two. There’s only one left.

However, East does not know that. West might have led from the queen-jackdoubleton. East will know, though, if, at trick one, South plays his heart jack or thinks about it.

Declarer must be ready, in tempo playing his king under East’s ace. Then East might think he has a guess. Should he try to cash the diamond ace?

East ought to deduce that if South had two fast losers, he would have used Blackwood. So, East should return a heart. But he might get it wrong.