Bridge Deal of the Week (October 10 2018)
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East opened with a weak preemptive bid – 2♥, South passed and West jumped to 4♥. North and East passed. South found the courage to declare 4♠. West led the ♥A. How can South win 10 tricks? What would be the highest contract North/South could have made? Dealer: East Vul: None Contract: 4♠ |
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SolutionAfter dummy hit the table, 4♠ did not seem hopeless, as South could count on five tricks with diamonds and at least two in clubs. The weakest spot is the 7-card trump suit and the obvious need to ruff hearts from the long trump suit in declarer´s hand. If the declarer is forced to ruff hearts too many times, South might end up with fewer trumps than one or both of the defenders have. As West has led the ♥A, South has to ruff (trick 1). South led a small spade to next, West played the ♠Q and won the trick (trick 2). West led the ♣4 next, so the declarer was able win the trick with the ♣J (trick 3). South led a small diamond next and East covered dummy`s ♦K with the Ace (trick 4). East led a club too dummy`s ♣A (trick 5). The declarer led the ♠J from dummy, West`s ♠K won the trick (trick 6). West led clubs again; South discarded a heart from dummy and won the trick with the ♣K (trick 7). Now the declarer could safely draw the trumps as diamonds were good. South led the ♠A discarding the ♥Q from dummy (trick 8). As both opponents followed suit, the defense had no trumps left and South could claimthe last five tricks: four with diamonds and one with the last spade (tricks 9, 10, 11, 12, 13). |
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With the weak preempt and West`s swift raise to 4 level, East/West managed to effectively severe the communication between North/South. South managed to find a suitable game to play, but it is a pity North passed all the way through the auction and didn`t show diamonds – North/South could have successfully played 6♦. North would be the declarer, East would have led a small spade to dummy`s Ace. It seems North has two losers now, the Ace of trumps and a trick in spades. To get rid of the ♠J in hand, North has to lead the ♣J from dummy. West has to cover with the ♣Q and North can win the trick with the ♣A. Next the declarer can win a trick with the ♣10, lead a heart and ruff in dummy and the lead dummy`s ♣K discarding the last spade. Now defense can only win one trick with the ♦A. 4♠ was an emergency solution, which could have gone down easily, if West had proceeded with hearts instead of switching to clubs after winning the lead with the ♠Q – by repeatedly leading hearts defense could have made South lose control, of the trump suit.
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Par Contract AnalysisThe par contract on this deal is 6♥ Dbl by West -2. |
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