| Dlr: East |
♠ A 10 4 |
|
| Vul: E-W |
♥ 7 5 |
|
|
♦ A Q J 5 3 |
|
|
♣ Q 6 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
♠ Q J 9 6 5 2 |
|
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♥ 8 2 |
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♦ K 9 6 |
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♣ A J |
|
|
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
1♥ |
1♠ |
| 3♥ (1) |
4♠ |
All Pass |
|
(1) Weak
Against your 4♠ contract, West leads the ♥Q. East overtakes with the king to shift to the ♦2. What is your play for getting to 10 tricks on this deal?
Solution
The diamond shift looked suspiciously like a singleton, so declarer paused to consider what he could do to prevent a diamond ruff. He saw that playing the ♠A and another spade would succeed if trumps were 2-2, but he suspected that East had three trumps to the king, If so, declarer could see the defenders taking a trump, two hearts and a diamond ruff.
Declarer’s plan was to try to cut communication between the defenders’ hands. He won the second trick with dummy’s ♦J and led a low club to his jack. When that held, declarer cashed the ♣A, led a low trump to dummy’s ace and played the ♣Q. East covered with the king. Instead of ruffing, declarer threw the ♥8 from hand. East tried to put West in by leading a low heart, but declarer ruffed and continued by leading the ♠Q. East could take the ♠K, but that was the end for the defense. Declarer made five trumps, two clubs and three diamonds for a total of 10 tricks. The full deal:
| Dlr: East |
♠ A 10 4 |
|
| Vul: E-W |
♥ 7 5 |
|
|
♦ A Q J 5 3 |
|
|
♣ Q 6 5 |
|
| ♠ 7 |
|
♠ K 8 3 |
| ♥ Q J 9 3 |
|
♥ A K 10 6 4 |
| ♦ 10 8 7 4 |
|
♦ 2 |
| ♣ 9 4 3 2 |
|
♣ K 10 8 7 |
|
♠ Q J 9 6 5 2 |
|
|
♥ 8 2 |
|
|
♦ K 9 6 |
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♣ A J |
|
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