The king's gambit, again

Playing online last night, I held: ♠8 6 ♥A 9 6 4 ♦J 9 3 ♣A K 4 2.

I opened 1NT (showing 13-15 high-card points) and partner raised to 3NT. Okay, so I fudged one point, but I hated to pass with three quick tricks. 1♣ would be artificial and strong, and 1♦ would show four or more in our methods. In any event, we were in a normal spot with our combined 26 HCP:

                ♠ K Q 4
                ♥ Q 5
                ♦ A 8 7 4
                ♣ Q J 8 6
==
                ♠ 8 6
                ♥ A 9 6 4
                ♦ J 9 3 
                ♣ A K 5 2

West led the ♠J. We had the points for game, but only seven tricks on top. I just stated that we were in a normal spot. At other tables, however, they may have opened 1♣, and received a more favorable lead when declared by North.

I covered with the ♠K, East won the ace and returned the 7 to the 9, ducked. Now West cleared the spade suit with his ♠3, East playing the 5. It looked like West had five spades, so it wouldn't do any good to lead up to the ♥Q. Even if West had the king, he'd win it and cash his spades. No, I had to look elsewhere for tricks.

I played a club to my hand and advanced the ♦3 to the 6, 7 and 10. East thought for about 10 seconds (a long time when playing online), and exited with a club. I now absolutely know the ♥K is on my right. If she didn't have it, she would have fired a heart back like a shot.

I won the club in hand, and led another diamond. West played the ♦2. I played the ace from dummy and now waited for East to play. She followed with the ♦5!.

Here are all four hands:

                ♠ K Q 4
                ♥ Q 5
                ♦ A 8 7 4
                ♣ Q J 8 6
♠ J 10 9 3 2               ♠ A 7 5
♥ J 7 3 2                  ♥ K 10 8
♦ Q 6 2                    ♦ K 10 5
♣ 4                        ♣ 10 8 7 4
                ♠ 8 6
                ♥ A 9 6 4
                ♦ J 9 3 
                ♣ A K 5 2

I cashed my clubs and exited with a diamond. East won the ♦K, low from me, queen from West! East had only hearts left and led one. I played low and dummy's queen won the trick. I now made 3NT via four clubs, two diamonds, two hearts and one spade.

East could have foiled my good card reading by playing the ♦K under the ace -- no endplay. Perhaps she didn't read my blog piece The king's gambit. I'm offering gratuitous drivel free advice, but they won't come read it. Just sayin'.

Making 3NT for a score of plus 400 was worth 5.58 IMPs --- down one would have been minus 4.34 IMPs.

There were 63 tables in play, and 59 of the North-South pairs played 3NT. About half of them made it (almost always by North), and about half didn't. You can see all the results, if you click here.