Sponsored by Nick Nickell Winner: Marius Austad Journalist: Jos Jacobs, Maarn Article: Two aces should be enough Event: World Youth Transnational Source: IBPA Bulletin 15, Aug 2024, page 12 Under 26 Pairs Qualifying, Round 6. Board 20. Dealer West. Both sides vulnerable.
A K J 8 — A K J 9 8 7 3 9 7
4 A K 10 7 5 2 Q J 6 K10 3 J J 8 5 4 6 K Q J 10 8 6 4
6 5 4 A Q 10 6 3 10 2 A 3 2
Many pairs reached slam, most of them playing 6against the king of clubs lead. Even 6proved too difficult to handle for eight declarers, with only two pairs making the slam, so making twelve tricks in 5{ was an above-average score (68%). Even a partscore would have scored above average if you made twelve tricks. This was the way to score 100%:
West North East South
Madej Austad Pigulski Oberg
Pass 2 4 4
Pass 6 Pass 7
Pass Pass Pass
Ida Oberg
Ida Marie’s reasoning was very simple. “If partner can bid six out of hand and I am looking at no less than two aces, the grand must be on.” So she bid one more for the road, and it was up to Marius to bring home the bacon on the lead of the king of clubs. This is one of those deals where the solution, i.e. the winning line, becomes easy enough once you think of it. If spades are 4-2 or indeed 5-1 with West, you have to ruff your fourth spade in dummy. This means that trumps have to be 3-1 with West because otherwise, East will ruff a top spade. But, if spades are 4-2 and trumps 3-1 with West, you have to take the trump finesse straight away because you will be in dummy only once to do so, i.e. now. The diamond queen in the three-card holding is much more likely than the queen singleton. So you win the ace of clubs, discard a club on the ace of hearts, and run the ten of diamonds. When this holds, you cash your top spades and ruff the spade loser with dummy’s last trump. East can only discard losers in sheer admiration for your wonderful and more than entirely deserved +2140. Needless to say, this score brings you all the matchpoints.

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