A Best Shot
A Q J
—
K 10 7 6 4
A J 10 7 6
4 2
A K 9 8 7 5 3 2
5
8 5
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
1 ♦ |
2 ♠ |
3 ♥ |
| Pass |
3 NT |
Pass |
4 ♥ |
| All Pass |
|
West led a spade, declarer ducked from dummy, and East won the
♠ K and continued the suit. Declarer then played a
third round of spades, pitching his diamond loser, West ruffing.
West then tried to take his side's diamond tricks, leading the
♦ Q. Declarer covered with the
♦ K,
East played the ace, and declarer ruffed.
Declarer drew two rounds of trumps, both following. With West's ruff,
that accounted for all the outside trumps.
The declarer I was watching looked at this situation and did not see
his chance for an overtrick. Instead, he just lead a club to dummy.
He got lucky. West, holding the
♣ K-Q, failed
to split her honors, and declarer made 11 tricks.
But wait, if West has the
♣ K-Q, why play for her
to misdefend? Instead, play her for the
♦ J. On the run
of the hearts, the situation is:
On the last heart, West must give up in one of the minors.
The full deal was:
A Q J
—
K 10 7 6 4
A J 10 7 6
8 6
Q J 6
Q J 9 3
K Q 4 3
K 10 9 7 5 3
10 4
A 8 2
9 2
4 2
A K 9 8 7 5 3 2
5
8 5
Note that this contract can be set with a
♣ K lead.
It could also have been set with a club shift after the spade
lead. Declarer would be forced to win in dummy. In danger of
losing a heart, a diamond, a club and a spade, declarer has to
pitch a minor loser immediately. If Declarer pitches his diamond
on the third spade, West leads a high club and a third round of
clubs, and East ruffs with the ten, promoting a second trump trick
for the defense. If Declarer pitches
a club, then West leads a diamond to East's ace and East and
East leads a fourth round of spades, again promoting a second trump
trick for the defense.