Perfect Technique

By: Larry Cohen

Perfect Technique

This deal was played in the 2012 U.S. Team Trials by Chris Willenken:

He chose to open 1, dealer at favorable vulnerability holding:

Q
K 9 6 3 2
A K Q 10 8 4
10

Apparently, he considered the hand good enough to reverse (planning to bid hearts twice). LHO passed and partner made the surprising (but pleasing) response of 1! RHO preempted to 2 and Chris chose to cue-bid 3. LHO bid 4 and Chris's partner, Michael Rosenberg, bid 5. Right or wrong, Chris chose to pass, thus buying it in 5.

The 7 was led (3rd and 5th best leads) and he saw:

8
A J 7 4
9 6 5 2
J 8 4 3
Q
K 9 6 3 2
A K Q 10 8 4
10

East won the A and played the K then a low club. How should declarer play?


This deal is all about the heart suit. If they are 2-2, declarer can draw trump and then lay down the top hearts to make 11 tricks. But, might hearts be 3-1? Why not try to get a count on the hand. How?

The first move is to carefully trump the club carefully with the 10 (to preserve the 8 and 4 for crossing to dummy).


Next come the trumps. On the A, East plays the jack. Chris now crossed (sorry--couldn't resist that!) with the 8 to the 9 (RHO showing out) and ruffed a 3rd round of clubs high (all following). Now came the the 4 to the 5 to ruff a 4th round of clubs. RHO showed out.


Since the lead was a 3rd/5th best 7, declarer knew spades were 4-7 (West would have led a low one from a 5-card suit). So, RHO has 7 spades, 1 diamonds, 3 clubs and therefore 2 hearts. There is no reason to take any heart finesses. Declarer laid down the top hearts and this was the full layout:

Vul: E-W
Dlr: South
8
A J 7 4
9 6 5 2
J 8 4 3
K 9 7 3
8 5
7 3
A 9 7 5 2
A J 10 6 5 4 2
Q 10
J
K Q 6
Q
K 9 6 3 2
A K Q 10 8 4
10

At many tables in the Round Robin, declarer (in hearts, so unable to get a complete count), played the preempter for short hearts and lost a heart trick by playing low to the K and then finessing the J. Willenken's team won 7 IMPs for +400 when his teammates played in 5 (bid against North-South's 5). The defense was accurate, carefully cashing out for down 1 (-100 E-W).