On this trials deal the declarer and defender both had to be careful. First, try what I did as South. I opened 1
and David raised directly to 4. Playing a Strong-club system, this is my favorite bid. The raise can be made on total garbage and 5 trumps. It can also be made with a flat 13-count and 3 trumps! The beauty of it is that it leaves the opponents guessing (whether or not to enter the auction, and as to what might be in declarer's hand). The responder knows that the 1 opening is limited, so he has no fear of missing slam. In "Standard," of course, you can't raise to 4 with a 13-count.
Vul: None
Dir: South |
 Q 10 8 7 4
A K 3
 10 8 7
 K 10
|
|
| |
K 2
Q 7 6 5 4
A 2
A 5 4 3
|
|
Now, plan the play in 4.
The opening lead is the Q.
On general principles you should duck the first diamond (this limits later defensive communications--especially if diamonds are 6-2). On the next diamond West plays a low diamond to East's King and your ace. Now what?
Ruffing clubs in dummy could prove awkward, so it must be better to try to set up the spades. You can afford to lose the A and even a trump trick. It is clearly best to start spades from dummy, so you cross to the A (East drops the jack) and play a spade to your king and West's ace. If you are looking at East's count (which would tend to be honest in this situation), it appears the spades are 3-3. West plays the J (East following) and you ruff to leave:
|
Q 10 8 7
K 3
---
K 10
|
|
| |
2
Q 7 6
--
A 5 4 3
|
|
Now what?
Continue to set up the spades. Play a spade to the queen and ruff a spade -- all follow. At this point, I was in a position to make an overtrick if hearts were 3-2.
But, what if they were 4-1? This was the six-card end position:
|
10 8
K 3
---
K 10
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
--
Q 7
--
A 5 4 3
|
|
I played a heart to the king and East showed out. Hearts were indeed 4-1. I led a good spade. West ruffed for the 3rd defensive trick, but had to give me the rest. He tried a diamond, but I was able to ruff in dummy, come to the A
and draw the last trump and claim.
However, I had misplayed the ending and West had misdefended!
Here were all the cards after I set up the spades:
|
10 8
K 3
--
K 10
|
|
--
10 9 8
9 5
6
|
|
--
--
--
Q J 9 8 7 2
|
| |
--
Q 7
--
A 5 4 3
|
|
As I said above, I played a heart to the king, a mistake. When I then played a good spade, West could have defeated me by throwing a club! What would I do now? If I play my last trump, West would have control. I'd have to play another good spade, but now West ruffs and issues a ruff-sluff. I can't cross to draw the last trump, because he is out of clubs.
So, to prevent this defense, I should have played the Q from hand. That is the winning play. Now, I go to the K and play good spades. Whenever West ruffs, he has no answer. If he gives me a ruff-sluff, I throw dummy's 10, and lead the good A from hand.
The full deal:
Vul: None
Dir: South |
Q 10 8 7 4
A K 3
10 8 7
K 10
|
|
A 9 3
10 9 8 2
Q J 9 5 4
6
|
|
J 6 5
J
K 6 3
Q J 9 8 7 2
|
| |
K 2
Q 7 6 5 4
A 2
A 5 4 3
|
|
No wonder this deal is labeled "Advanced."
