Sharpen Your Technique
| Dlr: South | ♠ J 7 5 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Vul: Both | ♥ 6 4 | |||||||||||||||||
| ♦ A 7 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ 10 9 6 5 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♠ A K Q 9 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♥ A 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♦ 10 6 4 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ♣ A Q J 3 | ||||||||||||||||||
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Game was duly bid at both tables in a teams match after the 2NT opener (20-21). West leads the ♦K against your contract. You win the ♦A in dummy and must decide how to continue. What is your plan?
Solution
The first declarer drew trumps in four rounds, ending in dummy. Next he ran the ♣10 and, after that held, played a club to the jack. When West discarded a heart, declarer had to concede defeat, losing one heart, two diamonds and one club.
Instead of drawing trumps immediately, the second declarer called for the ♣5 from dummy at trick two. When East played a low club, declarer covered this with the jack. When it held, he cashed the ace and king of trumps, noting the 4-1 break. After drawing the remaining trumps with the queen and jack, declarer led the ♣10 from dummy and ran it when East followed low. When West showed out, declarer repeated the club finesse and claimed 10 tricks: four trumps, the red aces and four clubs. The full deal:
| Dlr: South | ♠ J 7 5 3 | |
| Vul: Both | ♥ 6 4 | |
| ♦ A 7 2 | ||
| ♣ 10 9 6 5 | ||
| ♠ 8 6 4 2 | ♠ 10 | |
| ♥ K J 10 8 | ♥ Q 9 7 5 3 | |
| ♦ K Q J 9 | ♦ 8 5 3 | |
| ♣ 8 | ♣ K 7 4 2 | |
| ♠ A K Q 9 | ||
| ♥ A 2 | ||
| ♦ 10 6 4 | ||
| ♣ A Q J 3 |
