| Dlr: South |
♠ A 5 |
|
| Vul: N-S |
♥ K J 9 8 3 |
|
|
♦ K 6 3 |
|
|
♣ 6 4 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
♠ K Q J 10 9 4 |
|
|
♥ A 4 |
|
|
♦ A 8 7 |
|
|
♣ A 2 |
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
1♠ |
| 2NT (1) |
Dbl |
3♣ |
3♦ |
| Pass |
3♥ |
Pass |
3♠ |
| Pass |
4♠ |
Pass |
4NT(2) |
| Pass |
5♦(3) |
Pass |
6♠ |
| All Pass |
|
|
|
|
(1) At least 5-5 in the minors
(2) Roman Key Card Blackwood
(3) One key card
West leads the ♣K to your ace. Can you take advantage of the information provided by the 2NT overcall to land this contract?
Solution
Declarer took the opening lead with the ace, cashed the ♠K and ♠A, thus marking West with at most a singleton in hearts.
Declarer then continued with the ♥J from dummy, with the intention of running it if not covered.
This would lose only if West had three trumps or a singleton ♥Q. As the cards lay, this was the only winning line. East covered the ♥J with the queen and declarer won with the ace, then drew East’s remaining trump.
Next he played a heart to the king and ruffed out East’s ♥10. The ♦K provided the entry to the established ♥8, on which declarer’s losing diamond was thrown.
If West had shown up with one trump, it would still be correct to lead the ♥J at trick three as it would be at least two to one that East had the ♥Q. It is only when West has a void in trumps that declarer should play the ♥A and ♥K after drawing trumps. Then, if West produces the ♥10, declarer should make certain of the contract by playing the ♥9 and discarding the ♣2 from hand. If the 9 loses to the queen, the ♥8 would still take care of declarer’s diamond loser.
The full deal.
| Dlr: South |
♠ A 5 |
|
| Vul: N-S |
♥ K J 9 8 3 |
|
|
♦ K 6 3 |
|
|
♣ 6 4 3 |
|
| ♠ 6 2 |
|
♠ 8 7 3 |
| ♥ 2 |
|
♥ Q 10 7 6 5 |
| ♦ Q J 10 4 2 |
|
♦ 9 5 |
| ♣ K Q J 10 5 |
|
♣ 9 8 7 |
|
♠ K Q J 10 9 4 |
|
|
♥ A 4 |
|
|
♦ A 8 7 |
|
|
♣ A 2 |
|
