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Just in case….

Sometimes it’s not what they lead but what they don’t which can help you to find the right path. See what you think about your chances on this board.

 

 

You open 2 which shows 5 hearts and 4+ in a minor, less than an opener. After West’s natural overcall, your partner asks you how strong you are and which is your minor suit (2NT). Your 3 response showed a maximum non-opener with diamonds as your second suit after which partner’s 4 ended the bidding..well, nearly. East chipped in with a penalty double.

West led A and continued with 7. Plan the play.

The news seems remarkably good. That top diamond lead with a club continuation could hardly be more favourable. Yet, the big question to ask is why was there not a spade lead or at least a spade continuation from the player who both bid the suit and then doubled your artificial spade bid? Logically, West cannot hold the top two spades or is playing a very deep game.

Pay out to the “deep game”. Surely, West is missing one of the top spade honours or else they would have led the suit rather than an unsupported ace? Similarly, West is unlikely to have led A from an AQ holding. An initial low club would surely have been better.

So, we can start to paint a picture of the East hand with a high spade and probably Q. Not just is little high card strength left for West but you could also imagine that West did not have a trump, both from their partner’s penalty double and from no trump switch at trick 2.

So, what did you do at trick 2? Finesse? Feels right though you do not need to put all your eggs in the “finesse” basket just yet…as long as you take a wise precaution when you win the A.

South Deals None Vul	♠ 7 3 2 ♥ A Q 10 3 ♦ 9 ♣ A K 10 8 6
♠ K J 9 6 5 ♥ — ♦ A J 5 ♣ Q 9 7 5 3	N W   E S	♠ A 8 4 ♥ 9 7 4 2 ♦ Q 10 8 7 2 ♣ 4
	♠ Q 10 ♥ K J 8 6 5 ♦ K 6 4 3 ♣ J 2

 

 

Yes, hopefully, you played J under the ace so you can still take a finesse on the second round of the suit and profit from it.

If your aim is to ruff two diamonds in dummy, you cannot succeed even by ruffing the first diamond with Q and return to hand with a low heart to 8 trusting your judgement re the heart break. Ruff a second diamond with A and you cannot overtake 10 or you will still have a heart loser. Otherwise, you are stuck in dummy and will suffer a club ruff.

So, even if you finessed the club at trick 3, you will still have to ruff one diamond in dummy. Thus, win A throwing J and play a trump to hand…the break being as you thought. Now, ruff a diamond with Q and draw the remaining trumps in three more rounds before playing 2, taking the finesse to dispose of your second diamond loser. Making 10 tricks for just the loss of A and two spades.

The keys to your success were realising the opposition’s spade and likely diamond holding. After receiving A lead, the contract could not be beaten whether or not you won the A at trick 2. Remember though that the J blocks your successful attempt at a finesse unless it is either thrown under the ace or the finesse is taken at trick 2.  After an initial low spade lead, the contract cannot legitimately be made.

Take advantage of it!

More interesting deals after ANZAC Weekend.   

Richard Solomon

 

 

 

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