Trump Madness

Q 6 4 3

K 2

A K Q J 3 2

9 6 3

K 10 9 8 5

J 8 7 4

J 10 8 5 2

A 2

A Q

10 9 8 5

A K Q 4

J 7

10 9 6 5 3

7 4

If North declares 3 NT, there is no way to set him - the defense can only take four red-suit tricks. [If South was declarer, the defense could take a third diamond trick, holding him to eight tricks.]

So that seems to be it for the defense. 4 ♠ is a lousy sacrifice; the defense takes the first first three spades, followed by four clubs (South pitching two hearts,) and then a heart ruff.

4 ♥ can make six tricks, but again that's not good enough. The defense starts with a diamond lead, and the finesse is taken. The diamond ace is taken, followed by the ♥ A-K and the ♥ 10 North wins, and the defense takes their three spade tricks, North pitching clubs. Finally, South leads a high diamond at this position:

—

A K Q J

—

10 9

J 8

J 10

—

10 9 8

—

10 9 6

West can't get more than his two trump tricks, for a total of six tricks.

But East/West got one trick for playing in their seven-card fit rather than the eight-card fit, so perhaps the six-card fit will be worth yet another trick?

Indeed, the only good sacrifice on this deal is 4 ♦. What can North/South do? Suppose they lead a diamond. Declarer wins, and exits a club. Another diamond, won again in the East hand. Declarer ruffs a club, plays the ace and king of hearts, cashes the the diamond jack, reaching this position:

Q 6

—

K Q J 3

9 6 3

10 9 2

—

J 10 8 5 2

—

A K Q 4

—

10 9

—

Declarer exits with the ♠ 9, and South can take his diamonds but eventually must give up a trick to the spade suit. South sneaks by with seven tricks for -500.

North/South can avoid this endplay by playing off four rounds spades at the outset. On the fourth round, West pitches a heart, and North ruffs and exits the diamond king.

Declarer wins and leads a top club, and North wins, but has no more trumps. Say North exits a heart. East wins, leads a club, ruffed, followed by the ♥ K and a heart ruffed (with the queen, and South must underruff!) Finally another club is led from East at this position:

—

K Q

—

J 8

—

10 9

—

10 9 6

—

If South ruffs with the ten or nine, West's heart is pitched. If South ruffs with the six, West overruffs. Either way, West scores both remaining trumps, yielding seven tricks total: two hearts, and five trumps.

What if the defense takes three spades then exits a diamond? Then declarer just plays a fourth spade, forcing North to ruff, and achieving the same position as before.