TALES OF AKARANA 3

For the latest post on Latest News as the analysis shows North can be successful for the board 18 in 4Heart-small  played by North only if the defense makes an error or two and even then their declarer play would have to be exceptional. This leaves us with pondering what defensive errors would allow this contract to make.

I came up with this illustrative imaginary example of what may have transpired: 

Good pairs often use defensive signals to convey information to partner to assist them with the defense. However, if the defense blindly use defensive signals to show suit preference etc declarer can sometimes be successful because of the opposition's 'good' defense. 

Let say the opposition play odds and evens discards (odd to encourage that suit, even to show suit preference). After a Club-small lead declarer plays off two rounds of Club-small, they then ruff Club-small low, play ADiamond-small then another Diamond-small West covering with J, North making the superb play of ruffing semi - high with the 9Heart-small. West discards the 'useless' QClub-small to indicate to partner they have a holding in Spade-small (high even). North then ruffs the last Club-small with JHeart-small. As East can't lead a Diamond-small and they can prevent declarer getting to table West discards their carefully preserved  TDiamond-small to indicate a Spade-small preference to their partner (high even). Unfortunately they 'couldn't' show a spade preference with a low Spade-small discard as they were both even. Due to their 'good' defense East and West now both have information about each other's spade holdings. Declarer has already played with extraordinary imagination to this point to give their opponents an opportunity to make an illustrative error. Not many would have made the semi-safety play of the 9Heart-small for their first ruff of Diamond-small at the table.

 

This now leaves:

                                                     Spade-small  T9x

                                                      Heart-small AKQ6

                                                      Diamond-small -

                                                      Club-small -

Spade-small   A82                                                                                                   Spade-smallKJ76

Heart-small   T7x                                                                                                    Heart-small8xx

Diamond-small   K                                                                                                        Diamond-small -

Club-small   -                                                                                                          Club-small-

                                                         Spade-small Qxx

                                                         Heart-small -

                                                         Diamond-small Q98x

                                                         Club-small -

Declarer now leads a Diamond-small from South's hand and discards a Spade-small when West covers with KDiamond-small, simultaneously utilizing a loser - on - loser play and throw in. Whether East now discards a Spade-small or ruffs, the contract is secure due to 'good' defense. East and West's careful signaling and self elimination of the side suits has unfortunately allowed both East and West to be end played forcing both to either open the Spade-small suit first or lead a Heart-small if they win the trick.

Perhaps this or something similar was the reason for the 'errors' that allowed the two superb declarers to make this contract on the night.  Well done Richard for making this contract yourself!

 

 

Started by SEAN LYNCH on 26 Oct 2018 at 05:45PM

Post a Comment

You need to be logged in to reply to threads.
Click here to log in.

Latest Posts on this Thread

    You need to be logged in to reply to threads.
    Click here to log in.
    Our Sponsors
    • Tauranga City Council
    • TECT.jpg