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Redemption

West Deals
N-S Vul
IMPs
Q 3 2
A 10 9 6
K 9 8 7 6
4
A K 9
8 5 4
A 3
Q J 7 6 3
J 5
K Q 7 3
Q 10 5 4
8 5 2
10 8 7 6 4
J 2
J 2
A K 10 9
West North East South
1 Dbl? 1 1
1 NT Pass Pass 2
All Pass

North's double is not to my taste. Perhaps it was made in frustration; East/West were a famous bridge father and son, and they were clobbering the talented North/South pair.
West led a low heart, ducked to his partner's queen. East, spying the potential for a club ruff in dummy, switched to a spade. West cleared away dummy's trumps, playing the ace, king, and a third trump.
Declarer played a club to the ace, a diamond to the king, and a diamond, West winning the A. West exited a heart, won in dummy. Declarer ruffed a heart, getting to this end position:
6
8 7 6
Q J 7 6
K
Q 10
8
10
K 10 9
Declarer led the 10, and West could either duck or be end-played. In either event, declarer got three of the last four tricks.
Making was worth 4 IMPs and down one would have been worth -1.25 IMPs, for a total swing of 5.25 IMPs.
<< Stripped
Thomas Andrews (bridge@thomasoandrews.com), © 1995-2009.
An Entry Coup >>
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