Deals in Retrospect
“It’s been tough since I decided to start driving without a rearview mirror, but I haven’t looked back.” — graffiti
| Dlr: North | ♠ 10 2 | |||||||||||||
| Vul: N-S | ♥ A K J | |||||||||||||
| ♦ J 6 3 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ A 10 5 4 3 | ||||||||||||||
| ♠ 8 5 | ♠ Q J 9 7 6 3 | |||||||||||||
| ♥ 10 8 7 6 | ♥ 9 | |||||||||||||
| ♦ K 10 8 2 | ♦ Q 9 | |||||||||||||
| ♣ Q J 8 | ♣ K 9 6 2 | |||||||||||||
| ♠ A K 4 | ||||||||||||||
| ♥ Q 5 4 3 2 | ||||||||||||||
| ♦ A 7 5 4 | ||||||||||||||
| ♣ 7 | ||||||||||||||
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Opening lead — ♠8
It’s easier to play a deal in retrospect. We all look back with consternation on deals we misplayed. At today’s four hearts, South took the ♠A-K, ruffed his last spade in dummy and cashed the A-K of trumps. When East showed out, South came to his ♦A, took his queen of trumps and led a second diamond: eight, jack, queen.
South ruffed East’s spade return, but West overruffed and took the K-10 of diamonds for down one.
With benefit of retrospect, how would you play four hearts?
Bad Split
South would have been safe if trumps had split 3-2, but East’s bid made a bad split likely. South can lead a club to the ace at Trick Three, ruff a club, take the A-K of trumps and ruff a club.
South can then ruff a spade with the jack of trumps and take his ace of diamonds. He has won the first nine tricks and still has the queen of trumps.
Daily Question
You hold: ♠10 2 ♥A K J ♦J 6 3 ♣A 10 5 4 3.
Your partner opens 1♣, you respond 1♦, he bids 1♠ and you try 2♥. You open 1♣, the next player overcalls 1♠, your partner makes a negative double and the player at your right passes. What do you say?
