|
|
| An Unusual Ending |
|
This hand was originally played in an England v Germany match in Beijing. I saw it in the Coventry "International Replay" competition, where competitors play the hands of a past international match, and can compare their results.
South opens 1 Heart and West overcalls 2 Clubs. North bids a 4C splinter, and South Bids 6 Hearts.
The Club Queen is led - how would you play it?
|
|
Answer
The ♦A is most probably with West, and the ♠Q may well be too.
But if the ♦A is with West you are home!
Win, take out trumps and play 2 more rounds of Clubs, throwing 2 ♦ from dummy. The second one loses, of course, but now West is on lead and dummy has a Diamond void.
He has 3 choices -
a ♠ (gives a free finesse),
a ♦ (sets up the K for a ♠ discard)
or
a ♣ (gives a ruff and discard)
all give you the contract.
I managed to play it like this, and was impressed with myself - until East turned up with the Diamond Ace, and I only made 11 tricks. :-(
Brent |
|
|
| Last updated : 14th Mar 2014 18:05 GMT |
|
|
|
| The Operation Was a Success . . |
|
This hand occurred in the Birmingham pairs league this month. What would you have bid?
|
|
With an 11 card fit, 5♣ is probably a good save over their presumed 4♥ contract. But I spotted an option.
I probably have 2 ♠ tricks and a well placed ♦K. Is there another trick somewhere? Well partner is probably short in ♠, so maybe so . . .
I bid (a forcing) 3♠, and LHO bid the expected 4♥. Partner duly led the top of his doubleton ♠ and we took the first 3 tricks. Good old partner then led a ♦, and declarer was 1 down.
The operation was a success! Others bid the 5♣ save (one pair even made it!), but other oppos overbid to 5♥.
The patient died. |
|
|
| Last updated : 14th Jan 2014 20:21 GMT |
|
|
|