Every Little Helps



8th August – Board 22: East/West Game. Dealer East.
There were lots of exciting hands last Thursday but the one featured below was probably the best. The bidding might take several different turns but the proffered auction is not unreasonable. However the play’s the thing.


North:
S K J 4 3
H A
D A K Q J 10 8 5 4
C none

West:
S 10 9 6
H K 9 7 6 4
D 3
C J 8 7 5

East:
S A Q 7 5
H Q J 10 5 3 2
D none
C K 9 4

South:
S 8 2
H 8
D 9 7 6 2
C A Q 10 6 3 2


  West
 North
  East
  South
    
   
    1H
    No
     2H
    5D
    5H
    6D
     End
   
   
   

West might barrage with 4H at his first turn and the final contract might be doubled but see what happens on the queen of hearts lead. Declarer can enter dummy by leading the eight of diamonds and overtaking with the nine to cash the ace of clubs, pitching a spade. A club is then ruffed and dummy re-entered with a low trump. Another club is ruffed and when the king falls dummy can be entered for a third time to cash the remaining club suit and make an overtrick. If the king of clubs does not make a welcome appearance declarer would still have the chance of playing a spade to the jack, hoping the queen was with West, when the last spade could be ruffed in dummy. Declarer has to recognise that dummy has three entries – easy now but perhaps not quite so in the heat of battle.

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