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Jan’s Day: A Blind Spot.

Most of us have them. Hopefully, they do not cost and if they do, that such an error occurs in a part-score and not in a game contract where the loss is greater. So, today, you want to get it right. You are not in a game contract, but in 6…and finding the best line matters a lot!

 

5 showed 0 or 3 aces or key cards (your choice) and in view of your jump to 3, it had to be three. So, no messing as your partner jumped to slam. The lead is Q. Plan the play.

Jan Cormack

“Have you ever been in the situation of knowing there is a simple solution to a problem but no matter how hard you try, the answer eludes you?

When the answer is pointed out, it is inevitably embarrassingly obvious. This was the case on the following deal. You and your partner bid to 6 without interference.

West leads Q and when dummy appears, you realize that there are a few alternative lines of play if trumps do not break 2-2. Of course, had there been an even trump break, there would have been no story.

The deal arose at a friendly game to herald in the New Year and after a brief glance at dummy, our expert declarer played a spade to the ace. When both defenders followed suit, declarer confidently played a second round of clubs to hand and then a third club, ruffing in dummy with 9.

Is that what you did? If so, you can join our red-faced declarer in his New Year’s resolution to give more thought to looking for safer lines of play before playing to trick two. After both defenders follow to one round of trumps, there is a 100% line to guarantee 12 tricks. Look at the actual hands:

 

What happened was that East over-ruffed the third round of clubs with their J and exited with their remaining third trump. South still had to lose a heart for one down.

If the declarer had not over-indulged on Christmas pudding and numerous Yuletide toasts, he would have found the simple successful play. After the A won at trick 2, declarer should play a spade to their queen, cash A and then play a third round of trumps to the K in dummy.

Then, simply play Q discarding a heart from hand when East follows low.The defence score the K but that is all as J provides a parking place for the 2.Had East played the king, you can ruff and discard either a heart or 2 on the J losing just the other.

So simple but easily overlooked”.

Leading from “nothing” for less experienced players ..and others

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