Cute IBPA deal

One of the nice things about being a member of the IBPA (International Bridge Press Association) is that we get a set of bridge deals each month in the newsletter that are interesting.

Try this one: You hold:
♠A K 9 3 ♥--- ♦A K 9 6 5 3 2 ♣9 7.

You open 1♦, your left-hand opponent overcalls 2♥ and partner bids 2♠. After your RHO passes, what would you bid?

I guess you could torture partner with some cuebids, but, honestly, what do you expect him to tell you? In the newsletter, your hand jumps to 6♠. They describe this as an "explosive auction." One big plus it has going for it, you likely don't tell them what to do if a club lead matters.

Let's look at all four hands:

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

Now swing around to the South seat and play it with the ♥2 lead.

Did you ruff the opening lead and play the ♠A? Your partner made an explosive bid, but you just took a stick of dynamite to the play of the contract. The trumps split 4-0 and the contract can no longer be made.

Instead, South should discard a club on the opening lead. East would win the ♥A and return the ♥J (no switch is better). Declarer can win the ♥K and discard a diamond from dummy.

South cashes the ♠Q, then plays a diamond to the ace. A low diamond is ruffed with the ♠J. A trump to the 9 allows declarer to ruff a second diamond with the ♠10 to establish that suit. Trumps are drawn with the A-K to fulfill the contract.