bridge
bridge
Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xA Q 4
uA Q
vA Q 4
w8 6 5 4 2
WEST EAST
x8 6 xJ 9 7 3
u9 8 7 5 u6 3 2
v10 8 v9 7 5 3 2
wK Q 9 7 3 w10
SOUTH
xK 10 5 2
uK J 10 4
vK J 6
wA J
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT Pass 6NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of u
If the Good Lord had been a bridge player, we would have been born with at least 13 fingers. That would have made counting a hand far easier. But there are times when obtaining a count is simply a matter of technique. We would wager that most players would not be sure how to play the last few tricks on this deal.
North was rather surprised to hear partner open the bidding with one no trump. The point count suggested that a small slam was the maximum that could be bid with confidence, and North got there in one fell swoop.
Since the king of clubs lead was more likely to cost than gain, West selected the safe heart lead. Declarer could count eight fast winners outside spades, so that suit had to produce four tricks for the slam to come home.
Declarer started by cashing seven tricks in the red suits. East followed to six of these and discarded a diamond on the last heart. West discarded a club on the third diamond. At this point declarer had no clue as to how the spades were divided. Both defenders followed to the ace of clubs and ace-queen of spades, and declarer learned nothing new. South played dummy’s remaining spade and, after some thought, elected to rise with the king. Down one.
There was no need to guess the situation. With a little foresight, South could have obtained a complete count of the hand. All that was needed was to lead a club from dummy at trick two and insert the jack! Now when declarer cashes his winners outside spades, East will become marked with three hearts, five diamonds and just one club, so therefore the defender must have four spades. So, after cashing the ace and queen of spades and the jack does not appear, declarer has a marked finesse for the jack at trick 12. Easy, if you think of it!
2012 Tribune Media Services