Eric KokishWikipedia:Eric O. Kokish(born 1947) is a Canadian professional bridge player, writer, and coach from Montreal. Kokish graduated from McGill University.Kokish has been the coach of Nick Nickell’s professional team for many years. He first worked as coach for the Brazil national team in 1985 and later coached the Indonesia team briefly, a stint interrupted by political unrest in Jakarta. Around the Indonesia job he and his family relocated from Montreal to Toronto.Kokish was inducted into the ACBL Hall of Fame in 2011. Kokish was inducted into the Canadian Bridge Federation’s Hall of Fame.IMPs Dealer West. N/S Vul
A Q 10
A K Q 7 2
3
A J 7 4
K J 8 7 2
5 4
A 10 4
Q 6 3
West
North
East
South
3
Dbl
Pass
4
Pass
4NT
Pass
5
Pass
5NT
Pass
6
Pass
Pass
Pass
After West opened 3, North doubled for takeout and drove to slam after South showed some signs of life with a jump to 4.
Against 6, West led the K. Declarer took the ace an led a low club to the jack and king, reasoning that the risk of a club ruff was not so great since West might well have led a club if he held a singleton. East won the K and returned a diamond to force dummy. Declarer ruffed with the Q and cashed A, discovering the unfriendly 5-0 trump break when West showed out.
Nevertheless declarer scored up the slam. Can You?
Declarer continued with the A, K and Q. On the last of these, East discarded a club. It would not have helped him to ruff. If West started with seven diamonds, as seemed to be the case, them East was 5-2-2-4.
Declarer threw his last diamond, returned to hand with Q, crossed to the A, cashed 10 and led his last club from dummy. With only trumps remaining, East was caught with the 9 6 5 in front of declarer’s K J 8. East’s apparent trump winner had been neutralized and the slam was made.
The complete deal:
A Q 10
A K Q 7 2
3
A J 7 4
