Trump Control


9th July – Board 17. Love All. Dealer North.
Even the easy hands can spring a surprise from time to time and declarer had to be just a little bit careful on the hand shown below.

North:
S 10 9
H 5 4 3 2
D 10 7 6 4
C A 9 7

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

East:
S A Q 3
H A Q 10 9 7
D 2
C K Q J 10

South:
S 8 7 6 2
H 8
D A K Q 8 3
C 8 5 2


  West
 North
  East
  South
    
     No
     1H
    No
     2H
     No
     4H
    End


South has an easy lead and continuation and while declarer might initially think that eleven tricks are readily available that is not the case after two rounds of trumps reveals the bad break. If declarer draws all the trumps before tackling clubs then the defenders will have a host of diamonds to cash with declarer being unable to do anything about it. Instead after two rounds of trumps declarer should play a club and when North wins and plays yet another diamond declarer must discard a club winner rather than ruff. Then any further diamond lead can be ruffed in dummy, the short trump hand. Only then can declarer afford to draw trumps.

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