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 RIGHT LINE ON LINE!

Everyone at the Kelly Peirse Open Teams, hosted by the Rotorua Club last Saturday, was playing on-line but very few who ended as declarer found the right line to bring home a tricky 4 contract.

 

 

 

West’s 2 showed 5 hearts and 4+ of a minor with 3 being Stayman. There was no need for South to show four hearts! West leads K. What’s your plan?

We are kind enough to give a piece of opposition bidding. Some had to play with none, though whether or not there was any, the line taken by many declarers was unwise.

If there is a 3-2 spade break, it looks like a declarer will lose at worse two trump tricks and possibly a club, too. That diamond suit will provide a lot of tricks. However, laying down A at trick 2 was very unwise when there was a 4-1 trump break, especially when it was East who held four including KJ9. When the declarers played a second spade losing to East’s 9, they could not avoid three trump losers along with one club.

Such a deal needs care as one’s trumps are poor. “Care” was exercised by Blair Fisher when he was South after the above auction although his partner did slip in a 4 cue bid just in case Blair had higher aspirations. He was soon glad he did not. He was up against formidable opponents too.

West Deals N-S Vul	♠ Q 10 3 2 ♥ 6 ♦ A K J 9 5 4 ♣ 7 4
♠ 7 ♥ K Q 10 8 2 ♦ 8 7 6 ♣ 8 6 3 2	N W   E S	♠ K J 9 4 ♥ 9 7 4 ♦ 10 3 ♣ K Q 10 5
	♠ A 8 6 5 ♥ A J 5 3 ♦ Q 2 ♣ A J 9

 

 

The “care” was shown particularly in the trump suit. Blair took the A at trick 1 and led a low spade towards T and East’s J. Even without interference, this was wise, with it absolutely essential as West was likely to be short in spades.

Matt switched to the K won by Blair who played 2 to his ace. (Notice he did not shorten the trumps in dummy as he wanted to retain communication with dummy with its valuable source of tricks.) He then played Q covered by Matt and won in dummy.

Seeing the bad break, Blair played Q to his king and started to play diamonds. On the third round, he overruffed Matt’s 4 and only now ruffed a heart. He played another diamond and Matt used his last trump to ensure he scored one club trick. Yet, with no trumps left, and Blair still having a small one in his own hand, he could make the rest of the tricks. All the defence could take was two trumps and the K.   

It would not have helped Matt to play a second round of hearts when in with the J. Blair ruffs and plays Q covered and won with the ace. He can ruff a second heart in dummy with these cards remaining:

 

 Blair must play play clubs from dummy ducking if East covers. (Matt then has to continue with one minor.) Matt has no hearts left, and 94 but dummy has 85 and Blair can play a diamond to dummy and take a club finesse, then a second and third diamond and Matt will only score one more trick, 9.

Care rewarded on a board where most failed to bring home their game.

We will announce the tournament winners tomorrow. An appeal has delayed confirmation. 

and your lead is?

 

A stand

A standard pre-empt and a straightforward auction…and your lead is?

Richard Solomon

 

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