I Transfered, but I Declared!
Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 03/01/2020
Level: Advanced
This deal was played by Chris Willenken in the 2019 Southeastern Regional Knockout Teams. He used a Texas Transfer, but ended up being declarer, and did quite a great job of it! With both sides vulnerable, he held:
K109864
863
8
1043
His partner opened 2NT, and I agree with Chris's decision to insist on game (the good 6-card suit combined with being Vulnerable at IMPs makes it the educated guess). He transfered (Texas-style with 4
), but wound up declaring. How is that? LHO doubled (lead-directing), passed back to him. He now bid 4
and played it there with the
7 lead:
A2
KQ
AQ52
A9865
|
|
K109864
863
8
1043
|
He won the
A and played the
K. LHO won the
A and returned a heart, RHO playing hi-lo. From the LDD and play, it looked like hearts were 6-2, so he decided he wouldn't be able to trump his losing heart in dummy. Furthermore, even if he wanted to trump a heart in dummy, the only way to reach his hand was to play
A, diam,ond ruff--and that would give up the ability to finesse the
Q.
He laid down the
A--low, low, queen. He followed restricted choice and led a spade to his 10, LHO throwing a heart. Next came a winning diamond finesse, followed by the
A to throw a losing club. Then came a diamond ruff to leave this unusual position:
Vul:Both Dlr: North |
--
--
5
9865
|
|
--
J975
K
--
|
|
J7
--
--
KQJ
|
|
K98
8
--
10
|
|
Declarer has to lose a heart and club, but a trump trick? He exited with a losing heart (a club would also work). LHO had to win and play a red suit. Declarer ruffed and then exited with his losing club to take the last 2 tricks. Brilliant!
This was the Real Deal:
Vul:Both Dlr: North |
A2
KQ
AQ52
A9865
|
|
Q
AJ9754
K10943
7
|
|
J753
102
J76
KQJ2
|
|
K109864
863
8
1043
|
|