This deal comes from a frequent source of material for me, the Wednesday South Florida IMP team game. South was in 4th seat holding:
A
KQJ1086
K3
10986
After three passes, he opened 1. LHO overcalled 1
and after a negative double, RHO raised to 2
. South bid 3
, raised to 4
. The
J was led:
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Declarer won the A and played the
K. RHO took the ace and played a low diamond to the
K and West's ace. West cashed the
Q and tried a third diamond to East's ten, declarer ruffing.
Declarer drew trump (West started with two) and crossed to the A. He ruffed a spade (all playing low) and led the
10, low, ...?
Both declarers went with the odds (8-ever, 9-never and finessed). This was the Real Deal:
Vul:Both Dlr: West | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | |||||||
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
As you can see, playing for the drop was the winning action. Should declarer have done so? With the facts as stated, yes. Beware when a bridge column (or any deal, for that matter) starts with three passes. West has shown up with 10 points (he is known to have the KJ from the bidding and play, and has shown the
AQ). That leaves no room for
Qxx. He would have opened the bidding with
KJ10xx
xx
AQx
Qxx. Note that East should have followed with the
Q on the second round of the suit (to at least leave open the possibility that the lead was from
J10xxx).