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Daily Bridge in New Zealand

Jan’s Day: A Blind Spot.

Most of us have them. Hopefully, they do not cost and if they do, that such an error occurs in a part-score and not in a game contract where the loss is greater. So, today, you want to get it right. You are not in a game contract, but in 6Spade-small…and finding the best line matters a lot!

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South Deals
None Vul
A K 9
K 9 8 2
Q J 8 5
10 5
   
N
W   E
S
   
 
Q 10 7 5 4 2
A 10 4
A
A K 2
West North East South
      1 
Pass 2  Pass 3 
Pass 4 NT Pass 5 
Pass 6  All pass  

 

5Diamond-small showed 0 or 3 aces or key cards (your choice) and in view of your jump to 3Spade-small, it had to be three. So, no messing as your partner jumped to slam. The lead is Club-smallQ. Plan the play.

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Jan Cormack

“Have you ever been in the situation of knowing there is a simple solution to a problem but no matter how hard you try, the answer eludes you?

When the answer is pointed out, it is inevitably embarrassingly obvious. This was the case on the following deal. You and your partner bid to 6Spade-small without interference.

West leads Club-smallQ and when dummy appears, you realize that there are a few alternative lines of play if trumps do not break 2-2. Of course, had there been an even trump break, there would have been no story.

The deal arose at a friendly game to herald in the New Year and after a brief glance at dummy, our expert declarer played a spade to the ace. When both defenders followed suit, declarer confidently played a second round of clubs to hand and then a third club, ruffing in dummy with Spade-small9.

Is that what you did? If so, you can join our red-faced declarer in his New Year’s resolution to give more thought to looking for safer lines of play before playing to trick two. After both defenders follow to one round of trumps, there is a 100% line to guarantee 12 tricks. Look at the actual hands:

South Deals
None Vul
A K 9
K 9 8 2
Q J 8 5
10 5
8
6 3
K 10 9 6
Q J 9 8 7 4
 
N
W   E
S
 
J 6 3
Q J 7 5
7 4 3 2
6 3
 
Q 10 7 5 4 2
A 10 4
A
A K 2
West North East South
      1 
Pass 2  Pass 3 
Pass 4 NT Pass 5 
Pass 6  All pass  

 

What happened was that East over-ruffed the third round of clubs with their Spade-smallJ and exited with their remaining third trump. South still had to lose a heart for one down.

If the declarer had not over-indulged on Christmas pudding and numerous Yuletide toasts, he would have found the simple successful play. After the Spade-smallA won at trick 2, declarer should play a spade to their queen, cash Diamond-smallA and then play a third round of trumps to the Spade-smallK in dummy.

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Then, simply play Diamond-smallQ discarding a heart from hand when East follows low.The defence score the Diamond-smallK but that is all as Diamond-smallJ provides a parking place for the Club-small2.Had East played the king, you can ruff and discard either a heart or Club-small2 on the Diamond-smallJ losing just the other.

So simple but easily overlooked”.

Leading from “nothing” for less experienced players ..and others



North Deals
E-W Vul
   
10 9 5 4 2
9 7 6 2
3
9 8 2
 
N
W   E
S
   


West North East South
  1  Pass 2 
Pass 2  Pass 3 NT
All pass      

 1Diamond-small promised at least 4 diamonds with North producing a reverse, strong, second bid of 2Heart-small. What is your choice of opening lead?

Richard Solomon

 

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