Deceptive Defence by Mark Horton (UK)
Source: IBPA Bul Nov 2018
This deal from the final of the 2018 Spingold features a sparkling defence by Chris Willenken and Eldad Ginossar:
Dealer East. E/W VUL
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 J 6 4
 K J 9 8 6 5 4 3 2
 2
 —
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Q 10 5
10
K 9 8 6 3
A Q 6 4
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A 9 8 7
—
A J 10 7 4
8 7 5 2
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K 3 2
A Q 7
Q 5
K J 10 9 3
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West
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North
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East
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South
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Willinken
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Helness
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Ginossar
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Helgemo
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Pass
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1
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1
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4
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5
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5
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Pass
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Pass
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Pass
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In the other room, Klukowski had led the A against five hearts, declared by South. That saw declarer ruff, cross to hand with a heart, pitch a diamond on the king of clubs and continue with the J, establishing two more winners for spade discards. Declarer lost just one spade trick, making an overtrick.
Mark Horton
Here, East led the A. The auction strongly suggested that North would have at most one diamond, so West’s card could be expected to have suit preference overtones.
Appreciating that any club tricks the defenders were entitled to could not run away, Chris Willenken followed to the ace of diamonds with the 9.
East switched to the 7 and, when declarer played dummy’s two, West could win with the queen and return a spade for one down.
