Hand of the Week
This deal, played by Michael Nash of Los Angeles CA and reported by his partner, David Wilczynski of Redondo Beach CA, shows why it’s important to never give up. It was played in a knockout teams at the Long Beach Regional in July 2006.
North-South overbid to 7♠. West could have defeated the contract with a club lead (as you will see in the end position), but it’s hard to overlook the good sequence in hearts. Thus, West started the attack with the ♥J, ducked to the South hand after some consideration.
Nash proceeded to pick up trumps, followed by five rounds of diamonds. This was the end position with five cards to play.
On the play of the last good diamond, East had to discard a club – a heart pitch would allow Nash to ruff out the king, then cash the ♣A and ruff a club to the good ♥Q.
Nash discarded the ♥ 7, and West was under pressure. After East’s club discard, West could not discard a club because Nash could then play a club to the ace, ruff a club, felling the last two clubs held by the opponents, then ruff a club back to hand to claim with the good ♣4.
West, therefore, had to discard a heart. Reading the cards perfectly, Nash called for the ♥Q from dummy, pinning West’s 10 and establishing the ♥8 after Nash ruffed.
That was plus 2210 and a gain of 17 IMPs – at the other table, the North-South pair didn’t get past game!
The full deal: