frs1016@centurylink.net
Today’s deal reminds me of a man who was injured when a cascade of books fell on his head — and he had only his shelf to blame.
| Dlr: East | ♠ 9 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ A 10 9 6 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A 7 6 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ K 5 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ 10 8 4 2 | ♠ A Q J 7 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♥ — | ♥ 7 5 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ J 9 5 2 | ♦ K Q 10 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♣ Q 9 8 7 6 | ♣ 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♠ K 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ K Q J 8 4 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 8 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A J 10 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Opening lead — ♠2
West led the ♠2 against 6♥, and East won and returned a spade to the king. Declarer drew all the trumps, shrugged and led a club to dummy’s king. On the next club, East showed out, and South lost a club to West. Down one.
Could South successfully find the ♣Q?
Last Trump
South wasn’t blameless. After he wins the second spade, he should endeavor to get a count. He takes the ♦A, ruffs a diamond, and gets to dummy with trumps to ruff two more diamonds. South then draws the last trump.
At that point, South knows East-West had four diamonds each, and West had no trumps and presumably four spades for his lead of the deuce. Hence, West likely had five clubs. So South can lead a club to his ace to see which club East had. He can then let the jack ride confidently.
This week: counting practice.
Daily Question
You hold: ♠9 3 ♥A 10 9 6 ♦A 7 6 4 ♣K 5 4.
Your partner opens 1♦, you respond 1♥ and he bids 1♠. What do you say?