Source: IBPA Column Service NOV. 2018 Dealer North. Both Vul
A K 8 7 K 9 8 6 5 2 K 6 2
Q 9 5 2 Q J 7 6 J 9 8 5 3 — A 10 7 3 Q 10 9 8 3 2 K Q 7
J 10 6 4 3 J 4 A 5 4 A 10 4
West North East South
1 2 2
Pass 4 Pass Pass
Pass
The auction was the same at both tables in a team game, with the respective Norths stretching a bit to bid game on the basis of their four-card trump support. At both tables the lead was the queen of hearts, which looked to the declarers like an obvious singleton. Both declarers played the king of hearts at trick one.
Tim Bourke
Tim Bourke
The Easts took the first trick with the A and shifted to the K, much to the annoyance of both declarers. At the first table, declarer won with the ace of clubs and, without any discernable thought, played a low spade to the king. When East discarded a diamond the contract could no longer be made. At the second table, the declarer paused for thought after winning with the ace of clubs. As the opening lead had clearly been a singleton, declarer’s first thought was that, on a vacant places argument, it was four to three that West had the queen of trumps. Then declarer asked himself, “Why hadn’t East given his partner a heart ruff at trick two?” Declarer concluded that West probably had a trump trick and that East believed that his side needed more than just one heart ruff to beat the contract. So, at trick three, declarer led the jack of trumps from hand and ran it when West played low. Then declarer took the ace and king of trumps before playing a low heart to the jack. When West accurately discarded a club, declarer returned to dummy with the king of diamonds to lead the nine of hearts. East covered this with the ten and declarer ruffed in hand. This time West overruffed with the queen of trumps but now declarer claimed all but one of the remaining tricks, conceding a club. He made four trumps, two hearts, two diamonds, the ace of clubs and a club ruff for a total of ten tricks. Don’t forget to follow us @

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