Mark Horton
In 2008, Mark Horton’s Misplay These Hands With Me, a wry homage to the late Terence Reese, was shortlisted in the Master Point Press Book of the Year contest. In this series, he presents a further selection of deals written in the style of the master where the unsuccessful declarer subsequently realizes that he might have followed a stronger line.
Polish Precedent
Polish players have an excellent record in international tournaments and they also get the chance to compete in the many top-class events organized at home. My rabbinical partner has organized a trip to one of their open team championships, and during the semifinal I find myself in 3NT. West leads the ♣Q, and these are the cards I can see:
♠ K J 7 5
♥ A 9 4
♦ 8 6 2
♣ A 9 3
♠ A Q 4 2
♥ K J 2
♦ A 5 3
♣ 8 7 6
We have done well to avoid 4♠, the mirror image of our hands offering no sort of play for 10 tricks. Even so, 3NT is not quite a laydown.
A brief inspection of the opponents’ convention card reveals that the opening lead might be from a suit headed by the ♣K Q, and when I play low from dummy, East follows with the ♣2, which they play as encouraging. West now produces the ♣K, and when I duck again, he continues with the 4, East following to these two tricks with the 5 and 10, as I win with
dummy’s ace. I am going to need the heart finesse, but when I cash the ♥A and play a heart to the jack, West produces the queen and switches to the ♦J, forcing me to concede one down. The full deal:
| ♠ K J 7 5 | ||
| ♥ A 9 4 | ||
| ♦ 8 6 2 | ||
| ♠ 9 6 | ♣ A 9 3 | ♠ 10 8 3 |
| ♥ Q 8 7 5 3 | ♥ 10 6 | |
| ♦ J 10 7 | ♦ K Q 9 4 | |
| ♣ K Q 4 | ♠ A Q 4 2 | ♣ J 10 5 2 |
| ♥ K J 2 | ||
| ♦ A 5 3 | ||
| ♣ 8 7 6 |
Post Mortem
West did well not to lead a heart, but declarer made a common mistake. In 3NT, it does not matter when declarer scores his tricks as long as he eventually arrives at nine.
There was no rush to play hearts, and after winning the third round of clubs, declarer should play four rounds of spades ending in dummy, West discarding the ♥3 and ♥5 and East the ♦4. As the opponents have only one club to cash, declarer can afford to exit with a low diamond. East wins with the 9, cashes the ♣J, on which everyone discards a diamond, and exits with the ♦Q to declarer’s ace as West, having discarded the 10 on the previous trick, now follows with the jack.
These cards remain:
| ♠ — | ||
| ♥ A 9 4 | ||
| ♦ — | ||
| ♠ — | ♣ — | ♠ |
| ♥ Q 8 7 | ♥ 10 6 | |
| ♦ — | ♦ K | |
| ♣ — | ♠ — | ♣ — |
| ♥ K J 2 | ||
| ♦ — | ||
| ♣ — |
All the evidence points to West being 2=5=3=3, and if declarer cashes the ♥K and follows it with the jack, he will pin East’s 10 to land his contract in spectacular style.