Source:IBPAColumn Service AUG 2022Tim Bourke**Source: wikipedia:Tim Bourke “is an Australian bridge player and writer. His joint project with Justin Corfield “the Art of Declarer Play” won the International Bridge Press Book of the Year award in 2014.IMPs Dealer North. Both Vul
A K
A 10 6 3 2
A
A 9 8 3 2
J 10 4
J 5
Q J 10 9 5
K J 10
West
North
East
South
1
Pass
1NT
Pass
3
Pass
3
Pass
3NT
End
Both North/South pairs in a team game reached three notrump on the lead of a fourth-highest five of spades. After winning the first trick with dummy’s king of spades, the declarers’ approaches diverged.
At the first table, declarer cashed the ace of diamonds and led a low clubs to his ten, reasoning that he needed two entries to his hand to set up and enjoy the diamonds. Alas, West produced the queen of clubs and continued with a low spade to dummy’s now-bare ace.
Declarer saw that, as the spades appeared to be five-three, his only hope was that East had started the deal with queen-third of spades. So, declarer crossed to his hand with a low club to the jack to lead the queen of diamonds, throwing a heart from dummy. East won with his king of diamonds and led his third spade to West, who cashed three spades to set the contract.
At the other table, declarer found a clever play that guaranteed at least nine tricks. After cashing the ace of diamonds, this declarer led a club to his king to play the queen of diamonds, discarding dummy’s ace of spades. After winning trick three with the king of diamonds, East exited with a spade to declarer’s jack and West’s queen.
West judged that South had the ten of spades remaining as well as some good diamonds. So, instead of continuing with a spade, he shifted to the queen of hearts. Declarer won with the ace and led a low club to his jack and West’s queen. Declarer then claimed nine tricks, conceding a heart, which was the defenders’ fourth and last trick.
The complete deal:
A K
A 10 6 3 2
A
A 9 8 3 2
