This month’s hand was played at the local dupe. Visions of extra tricks clouded some declarers’ judgment. They went down instead of making.
Both: Vul
Dealer: South
the bidding
S
1 ♠
2 ♠
Pass
W
Pass
Pass
Pass
N
1 NT (forcing)
4 ♠
E
Pass
Pass
« Opening lead: ♥K
« Cover the East/West hands and see if you can make the contract.
NORTH
♠ 9 6 5
♥ 9 7 3
♦ A K Q 5 2
♣ Q 10
WEST
♠ Q 10
♥ K Q 10 8
♦ J 9 8 4 3
♣ 8 4
EAST
♠ J 7
♥ J 6 2
♦ 10 6
♣ A K 6 5 3 2
SOUTH
♠ A K 8 4 3 2
♥ A 5 4
♦ 7
♣ J 9 7
the play
1. West led the ♥ king, won by declarer in hand with the Ace.
2. Most declarers jumped at the chance to discard their ♥ losers on dummy’s ♦s.
3. At trick two, they crossed to the ♦ Queen and followed with the Ace, throwing one ♥.
4. Next the ♦ King. It was then East trumped with the ♠ Jack.
5. Declarer made the best play by throwing the last ♥, refraining from overruffing. (By
overruffing, he would have set up a trump loser for himself.)
6. East then played the King and Ace of ♣s, West the 8 and 4.
7. West was able to trump the third ♣ with the ♠ 10, defeating the contract.
what should have happened:
1. Declarer wins the ♥ Ace.
2. Declarer then plays the ♠s Ace and King, getting a 2:2 split in trumps.
3. The ♦ 7 is led to the Ace.
4. On the ♦ King and Queen, declarer throws two ♥s.
5. Declarer then forced out the ♣s Ace and King, and had his contract made plus one.
Note: Had trumps divided 3:1, declarer must leave a trump outstanding and will make the hand unless the second diamond is trumped.
tip of the day
Q| we always hear ‘get the kids off the street’; sometimes drawing trumps right away is a mistake. How do we know when the time is right?
A| Counting the tricks required to make your contract is the short answer; i.e., if trumps are to be used for ruffing in the short hand, then drawing trumps must be postponed. Hence the rub—not drawing trumps can be dangerous if there is a possibility of having your winners trumped or being overruffed.
[Do you have a good bridge tip? Email kennethmbland@yahoo.com.]
