michaelslawrence.com
Card Combination
| Dlr: West |
♠ K J 4 2 |
|
| Vul: None |
♥ Q 10 9 |
|
|
♦ A 7 2 |
|
|
♣ 6 4 2 |
|
|
|
|
|
♠ 7 6 5 |
|
|
♥ A K 8 |
|
|
♦ K 9 5 |
|
|
♣ A K Q 3 |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| Pass |
Pass |
1♣ |
Dbl |
| Pass |
2♠ |
Pass |
3NT |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
South doubled East’s third-seat 1♣ bid and then bid 3NT over North’s invitational 2♠ bid. South did not consider a slam since North was marked with a maximum of about 10 points.
West started the ♣9. East overtook with the 10, and South won the trick.
It looks like South will need a spade trick, and he decided to try for one by force rather than to try an endplay. The play at trick two was the ♠5, 8 from West, jack from dummy, and the queen from East. So far, more or less predictable. East continued with the ♣J, won by South, as West followed suit. East is marked with only four clubs so there is no danger there.
At the next trick South continued spades by leading the 6 to West’s 10, the king, and East’s ace. Is this all bad news or what?
East continued with a club and declarer won, West showing out.
How do you measure South’s chances now?
He continued with his ♠7 and West discarded a heart. East won the ♠9, cashed his club, and returned the ♦Q.
Can you make 3NT now? How?
The answer is embarrassingly simple. Go to dummy and cash the ♠4, dropping East’s 3. Did you follow the spade spots or did you overlook something? No need to tell anyone. It’s between you and the ♠4.
| Dlr: West |
♠ K J 4 2 |
|
| Vul: None |
♥ Q 10 9 |
|
|
♦ A 7 2 |
|
|
♣ 6 4 2 |
|
| ♠ 10 8 |
|
♠ A Q 9 3 |
| ♥ 6 5 4 3 2 |
|
♥ J 7 |
| ♦ 8 6 4 3 |
|
♦ Q J 10 |
| ♣ 9 5 |
|
♣ J 10 8 7 |
|
♠ 7 6 5 |
|
|
♥ A K 8 |
|
|
♦ K 9 5 |
|
|
♣ A K Q 3 |
|
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