Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Handle with care

Jim, a guy I work with, played this deal at the local club last Thursday (low cards are approximate where not important):

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

Jim was South and declared 6 after the lead of a low spade. How would you play?

Most declarers drew three rounds of trumps (they split 3-2), then played on diamonds. Because of your strong spot cards, you're likely to bring in the suit. That's not a bad line, but Jim saw an extra chance.

He played only two rounds of trumps, then played the K and another diamond. East discarded! He won the A and led the J. West covered (ducking would do no good), and Jim ruffed in dummy as East discarded again.

Now it was trivial to discard a club on a high spade, play the A and ruff a club to draw the last trump and concede a diamond. In all, he took: five hearts, two spades, one club, three diamonds and one diamond ruff for his 12 tricks.

Here are all four hands (East-West cards are approximate):

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

Jim got a top for bidding and making 6. Three other declarers bid slam, but went set one. How would you have done?

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