<< Assumptions Interesting Bridge Hands Stripped >>

One Chance

East Deals
None Vul
IMPs
K 9 6
A J 10 8
J 8 5
A Q 3
J 5 4 3
9 7
Q 4
K J 5 4 2
Q 8 7 2
4 2
K 10 6 3 2
10 8
A 10
K Q 6 5 3
A 9 7
9 7 6
West North East South
Pass 1
Pass 2 NT* Pass 3
Pass 4 All Pass
*Forcing raise

West found a poor low spade lead. Declarer played low, East played the queen, and declarer won in hand. Declarer drew trumps ending in hand and played the 10, ducked around. Declarer then played a club to the queen, a diamond to the ace, and a club to ace, and pitched a club on the K. Declarer ruffed a club, arriving at this position:
10 8
J 8
J
Q
K J
8
K 10 6
Q 6
9 7
Declarer played a diamond from his hand, and West was forced to win the queen. West was caught in a throw-in, and had to give declarer a ruff and discard in one of the black suits.
West could have avoided this endplay by dropping the Q under the ace. That was the main reason for taking the A before showing the position in the black suits.
Only six players who played 4 got a spade lead. Of those, only one player, Curt Hastings (curt), found this extra overtrick. It was worth a measly IMP, but an IMP is an IMP.
<< Assumptions
Thomas Andrews (bridge@thomasoandrews.com), © 1995-2009.
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