Friday, January 15, 2010

Don't fall asleep

South was the declarer on this deal:

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

South opened 1, West overcalled 1 and North blasted to 5.

West led the Q won by the king in dummy. Declarer played a club taken by West. He returned a spade which was ruffed by East. He still had the A to lose, so was down one.

"That sure was unlucky," whined South to his partner.

What's wrong with this picture?

Declarer had a blind spot. He should win the opening lead in his hand with the A. He can then play the A and discard the K from dummy. Then the contract would be secure unless East-West could maneuver a heart ruff.

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I'm on vacation. I'll resume more regular blogging next week.

3 comments:

  1. Yes very instructive - I love hands like this - is it from your archives or did it come up recently? If the latter, I'd give credit to the winning declarer if there was one

    RT

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  2. Thanks to both who commented.

    @Ross: The deal was a freebie from the International Bridge Press Association. Not sure if Tim Bourke (who submits the freebies) made it up or found it somewhere.

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