Misplay These Hands With Me


Mark Horton

Reversal of Fortune

As the royalty checks from my publisher diminish in size, my ambitions at rubber bridge are confined to the more modest tables where a reasonably steady income is usually guaranteed despite the somewhat adventurous approach to the bidding which most of my partners appear to favor.
Towards the end of the evening I pick up a promising collection as South (none vulnerable):
♠ A J
A Q 7 4
A K
♣ Q J 10 9 7
Although I have always considered 5–4–2–2 to be an unbalanced distribution, I do not wish to get involved in a complicated auction with my present partner and I open 2NT. When he bids 3♣, asking me if I have a four-card major, I dutifully respond 3. Evidently that is not what partner is looking for, as he continues with 3NT.
He has promised a major, so I can place him with four spades, but I have nothing to say which leaves us with this auction:

West North East South
2NT
Pass 3♣ Pass 3
Pass 3NT All Pass

When West leads the ♠4 partner puts down a number of useful cards.
♠ 10 7 5 3
K 6
Q 8 7 3
♣ 5 4 2
♠ A J
A Q 7 4
A K
♣ Q J 10 9 7
There are six tricks in the red suits, and after the lead, I must make two in spades, so I will need to develop the clubs.
East plays the ♠Q and I win and cross to dummy with a heart. This will cost a trick in diamonds, but I want to play the first club from dummy. When I do so, East produces the king and continues with the ♠6. West takes the trick with the king and continues with the ♠9, East discarding a diamond as I win with dummy’s 10. When I play another club it is West
who turns up with the ace and he cashes two spades to leave me a trick short.
The full deal:

♠ 10 7 5 3
K 6
Q 8 7 3
♣ 5 4 2
♠ K 9 8 4 2 ♠ Q 6
9 8 2 J 10 5 3
J 9 10 6 54 3
♣ A 6 3 ♣ K 8
♠ A J
A Q 7 4
A K
♣ Q J 10 9 7

Post Mortem

East did well to go in with the ♣K, protecting his partner’s entry. I had a stronger line available, however. Suppose I simply duck the opening lead? I win the next spade and play on clubs. West can win and clear the spades, but he has no entry.

Later I spotted another possibility. Suppose I win the opening lead and simply return the suit? West wins and persist with spades but I duck the third round and win the fourth. East, under pressure in the red suits, will have to part with a diamond and a club. Now I unblock the diamonds, cash three rounds of hearts and exit with a club. East can win and cash a heart, but then has to lead into dummy’s diamond tenace. Or West can win (crashing partner’s king) and cash a spade but then has to give me two club tricks.