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♠ 8 5 3 |
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♥ A K Q 9 2 |
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♦ 9 7 |
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♣ A 5 4 |
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♠ — |
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♠ J 9 7 6 4 |
♥ 6 4 3 |
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♥ 10 7 5 |
♦ K Q J 10 8 4 3 |
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♦ 2 |
♣ 9 7 6 |
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♣ K 10 8 2 |
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♠ A K Q 10 2 |
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♥ J 8 |
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♦ A 6 5 |
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♣ Q J 3 |
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The idea is to make the contract even if East has the ♣K. Start by playing three rounds of hearts.
If East ruffs the third heart (unlikely), you’re a goner no matter who has the ♣K. If you overruff and throw East in with a spade forcing a club return, you’ll have only 11 tricks: four spades, four hearts, two clubs and one diamond. Discarding a diamond is no better as East can exit a spade if he has the ♣K or exit a club, driving out dummy’s ♣A, if he doesn’t.
If East has exactly three hearts, stop playing hearts. Lead a spade to the 10, cash two more spades and throw East in with a spade. The forced club return (assuming West started with
seven diamonds for his three-level preempt) gives you 12 tricks: four spades, five hearts, two clubs and one diamond.
If East has four hearts, cash four hearts before throwing him in with a spade. The idea is to strip East of hearts before throwing him in with a spade. You cannot allow East to ruff a
winning heart. Period.
East has a chance to make a clever defensive play. If East plays the ♥10 convincingly enough on the first or second round of hearts and cons you into believing that he has a doubleton heart, and you stop playing hearts to take the spade finesse followed by a spade throw-in, you will not be a happy camper when East exits a heart, rather than the hoped-for club.
Thanks to Tim Bourke of Australia for this one.