LEARNING CENTER

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This deal is from the 2014 Sarasota-Manatee Regional. In a knockout match, East dealt at favorable vulnerability with: QJ9876
K2
94
1087.

At this vulnerability, most players would open 2. East did so and it was followed by two passes and then 3 by RHO. What does that mean? First of all, there is no reason to ask--you have no intention of bidding. Second of all, whatever it means, don't double. That silly action just allows the opponents extra bidding options. You pass and LHO bids 3NT. Everyone passes and now is the time to ask. Actually, not your time, since partner is on lead. It would be completely inappropriate for you to ask until it is your turn to bid or play.

Partner asks and is told that the 3 bid asked for a spade stopper. That is one way of playing this cue-bid. The other way is to play it as a Michaels bid. Make sure you and your partner have an agreement, or it is a big accident waiting to happen. Partner leads the Q and you see this imposing dummy:

 

2 A5 AKQJ1087 KQJ
	QJ9876 K2 94 1087

 

On dummy's ace, East at the table made the expert play of unblocking the K. Did I say "expert?" Actually, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A beginner would have done better, keeping his high card and playing the deuce under the ace. I'd call the K play "reflexive." Most players have learned this unblocking play on defense, usually the indicated move with honor-doubleton. However, there is always an exception. On this deal, there is absolutely no reason to unblock the king. In fact, there is every reason to keep it.

 

East's only chance to defeat the contract (this was team scoring), was to hope partner had both black-suit aces. If declarer had either one, he had at least 9 tricks. So, what good could come from unblocking?  Declarer would knock out partner's A and partner would need to cash the J109 in addition to the A to defeat the contract. Meanwhile, if he has both needed aces, he could always cross to your K for you to go back to him to cash the rest of his tricks. This was the Real Deal:

East, a multi-time regional winner, reflexively unblocked his K on the ace. Declarer played a club and West could take only 4 tricks. Had East played low, even if West continued with a high heart at trick 3 (after winning the A), the contract still would have been defeated. East would win and play the Q and the defense would have 2 spade tricks, 2 hearts and a club. Credit declarer with correctly playing the A at trick 1.

Vul: NS Dlr: East	2 A5 AKQJ1087 KQJ
A3 QJ108 65 A9532		QJ9876 K2 94 1087
	K1054 97643 32 64

 

 

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