When one is writing up bridge deals, one can get so involved in a particular theme that one can miss an alternative line of play or defense that is either worthwhile or better.

For example, in this deal from a world team championship, South played in two spades after making (by partnership agreement) a game-invitational jump guaranteeing at least a sixcard suit.

West started the defense with his two top diamonds and, being an observant fellow who saw his partner’s high-low, led the diamond jack. East ruffed, but what did he do next, and has anything else struck you?

When one defender gives his partner a ruff, the card he leads sends a suit-preference signal to tell partner which suit to return after ruffing. Here, the diamond jack was West’s highest remaining diamond, so he was asking for a heart shift. If East had obeyed and led a low heart, the contract would have failed. South could have ruffed, but he would have run out of trumps before the clubs were established. He would have won only six spades and one club. (East erred by leading a trump.)

Did you notice that West had an easier defense? At trick three, he could have cashed the club ace, then led the diamond three. If East had ruffed and returned a club for West to ruff, later East would have scored the club queen for down one.

However, this defense would have been fatal if declarer had 6-2-3-2 shape with king-queen-10-sixth of spades and ace-doubleton of hearts. Yes, that was unlikely, but West’s original defense was right because it accommodated both layouts.