Laurence J. Peter, a Canadian educator and “hierarchiologist” who died in 1988, said, “Bureaucracy defends the status quo long past the time when the quo has lost its status.”

Last week, we looked at elimination and endplay by declarer. In those deals, the defenders could not avoid being trapped. Sometimes, though, they can defend effectively. There is one key point that must be borne in mind, which is highlighted in today’s layout.

South is in four spades. West cashes two heart tricks, then exits with a diamond. What happens after that?

Note South’s two-spade jump-advance of his partner’s takeout double. So many inexperienced players bid the suit that they prefer at a minimum level regardless of point-count. A minimum bid shows 0-8 points. With 9-11, advancer must jump in his suit. (With 12 points or more, he cue-bids the opener’s suit.)

Declarer mustn’t concede two club tricks. However, since only 13 high-card points are missing, surely the club finesse is losing.

After winning trick three, South draws trumps and cashes dummy’s diamonds. Now he leads a club. If East plays low, declarer covers with his eight. This endplays West; he must either return a club away from the king or concede a ruff-and-sluff. However, if East knows about defense against an elimination and endplay, he will play the club 10 at trick nine. This gets West off the endplay and defeats the contract.

When declarer is trying for an endplay, it’s second hand high.