Phillip AlderSource:ACBL:“Phillip Alder is a columnist for The New York Times and a syndicated columnist for 22 years with United Feature Syndicate. His column appears in over 200 papers worldwide. He has also helped to produce the Daily Bulletins at various WBF Championships and is a member of the WBF Youth Committee. Alder is the Associate Editor of The Bridge World magazine.”IMPs Dealer North. Both Vul
A 3
Q 5 4
A 10 9 7
Q J 6 5
K Q
K 6 3
8 2
A 10 9 8 7 3
West
North
East
South
1
1
2
Pass
3
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
Opening lead: 9
West leads the 9. How would you plan the play?
If the cub finesse is working, there will be no problems. But if the club finesse is losing, you must work to annul East’s heart suit. The right play is to call for dummy’s Q.
Assume East wins with the A and returns the J, win with your K (else East will switch to diamonds), play a spade to dummy’s ace and take the club finesse. You have nine guaranteed tricks: two spades, one heart, one diamond and five clubs.
Note that if you duck the first trick in both hands, a clever West can switch to diamonds, establishing five tricks for the defense: 2 hearts, to diamonds and one club.
Finally, if West bi hearts, you should play lo from the dummy at trick one. Even if East has unexpected doubleton A you are still safe.
The complete deal:
A 3
Q 5 4
A 10 9 7
Q J 6 5
