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A Double Whammy

East Deals
E-W Vul
IMPs
Q 10 6 5
J 3
A K 7
J 7 5 2
A 3
A Q 7 5
J 9 3
A Q 8 6
West North East South
Pass 1 NT
Pass 2 Pass 2
Pass 3 NT All Pass

West led the 4 against this game. Declarer inexplicably played low, winning East's nine with the ace.
Declarer sees a probable three clubs, two hearts, two diamonds, and two spades. But timing is everything on this sort of hand, and of course, clubs might not behave.
Declarer started with a heart to the jack, East winning the king. East exited with the 10, won by declarer.
Declarer next attacked clubs, leading a low club to the jack, which won. Declarer continued clubs, East showing out, pitching a diamond. Unfortunate - the trick count is down to eight now.
Declarer ducked this club to West's 10, and West exited in hearts. Declarer pitched a club from dummy, winning in hand.
Here is the end position with seven tricks left to go (double dummy):
Q 10 6
A K 7
7
J 8 7 2
10
K 4
K
9
Q 8 6 5 4
3
7
J 9 3
A Q
Declarer led a low spade to the queen, guessing wrong, but East was endplayed. After cashing the high heart, he was forced to lead a diamond. Declarer guessed right to play the jack. Declarer then played two more rounds of diamonds, and West was pinched:
10
K
7
J
K 4
Q 8 6 5
9
A Q
A double whammy - an endplay followed by a squeeze.
Making 3 NT was worth 2.12 IMPs, but going down one would have been worth -7.84 IMPs, for close to a 10 IMP swing.
<< Overtricked
Thomas Andrews (bridge@thomasoandrews.com), © 1995-2009.
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