South Deals None Vul | ♠ Q 8 6 4 ♥ Q 10 9 7 4 ♦ 7 5 ♣ K 5 | ||||||||||
♠ 10 9 ♥ J 8 2 ♦ J 9 8 2 ♣ J 9 4 3 |
| ♠ K J 7 ♥ 5 ♦ A K 10 6 3 ♣ A 10 8 7 | |||||||||
♠ A 5 3 2 ♥ A K 6 3 ♦ Q 4 ♣ Q 6 2 |
West | North | East | Jenn |
1 NT | |||
Pass | 2 ♦ | Pass | 2 ♥ |
Pass | Pass | Dbl | Pass |
3 ♣ | Pass | Pass | 3 ♥ |
All pass |
3 ♥ by South |
At team play recently, I got a heart lead and had to figure out how to avoid losing 5 tricks. RHO had hesitated briefly after the 2D transfer bid and then she doubled. Therefore I knew she had diamonds and values. I should be able to endplay her in the diamond suit.
I drew trumps ending in my hand and led the queen of diamonds. RHO won the ace, cashed the king and had to either lead a black suit or give me a ruff/sluff. Most players are reluctant to give up a ruff/sluff, so she returned a spade which I ducked to my queen. A spade to the ace revealed the 3-2 break, so I exited with a spade to RHO. Endplayed again, she cashed her club ace and I made my contract.
The defenders could have prevailed by giving me a ruff/sluff. RHO knows her partner has at most 3 points, so I must have the spade ace. She needs to defend more carefully to take the 5 tricks she has coming. Of course LHO could have made life easier for the defense by leading something other than a trump.
See you at the table!