Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Neither vulnerable. West deals.
NORTH
xJ 8 7
u4 2
vK J 9 7
wQ 8 7 3
WEST EAST
x9 6 5 x4 2
u3 uK Q J 8 7
vA Q 4 3 v8 2
wA K J 9 4 w10 6 5 2
SOUTH
xA K Q 10 3
uA 10 9 6 5
v10 6 5
wVoid
The bidding:
WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH
1w Pass 1u 1x
2w 2x 3w 4x
Dbl Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of w
Here is an opportunity to test your analytical skills. Study all four hands above, then decide whether four spades can be made against best defense.
The auction is typical of duplicate, with both sides stretching a little once a fit has been found. Since the bidding suggested that North would have no wasted values in clubs, South’s jump to game was well-reasoned; West’s double perhaps a little less so.
Declarer ruffed the opening lead and, since entries to the two hands were at a premium, drew only two rounds of trumps before leading a diamond to the nine. When that held, declarer returned to hand by overtaking the jack of trumps to lead the ten of diamonds. West defended superbly by again holding up the ace, but when South allowed the ten to ride, the contract went the way of all flesh.
West won the third diamond and exited with a heart. East’s jack was allowed to win the trick and declarer had to lose two more tricks when East persevered with a high heart instead of reverting to clubs.
Declarer’s plan was sound — it was the execution that was faulty. Instead of letting the ten of diamonds ride, declarer should have overtaken with the table’s knave to lead a heart. East must cover with an honor, so declarer takes the ace and leads a third diamond.
West can do no better than rise with the ace of diamonds, and exit with the queen to the table’s king, South discarding a heart. Now dummy’s remaining heart is led, and East is helpless. If the defender wins and cashes another heart, declarer’s hand is high. If, instead, East returns a club, declarer simply discards a heart and the board’s queen of clubs takes the fulfilling trick. Either way, South collects five trump tricks, three diamonds, the ace of hearts and either another heart trick or a club!
2010 Tribune Media Services