LEARNING CENTER

For the third month in a row (more to come), we visit this year's Senior Team Trials. Everyone (the deals were the same in all matches) opened 1NT and played in 4 after a Texas Transfer.

Vul:None Dlr: South	KQ10832  2  A1076  95
974  K653  92  K1083		65  Q987  KQJ5  J76
	AJ  AJ104  843  AQ42

What should happen on West's 9 lead? Although several declarers failed, this one should be made. As usual, we count losers. From the long trump hand (dummy in this case). If the K is offside (as it is), that's one loser there. If diamonds aren't 3-3 (they aren't) that's 3 more losers. So, the contract is in jeopardy.

Declarer should start by winning the A and playing another diamond. If the defense doesn't find a trump switch, it will be easy. Declarer could win a heart or club (eschewing the finesse) return and play a third diamond, later trumping the 4th diamond in hand.

But East should have none of this. After winning the J at trick two, he should play a trump, taken by declarer's A. Now what?

Declarer still has a surefire counterplan. Do you see it? Simply win the A at trick three and play a third diamond. If they are 3-3, no problem. If East wins and plays a heart or club, win the ace, ruff a heart in dummy and trump the last diamond. So, when East wins the third diamond, he has to play a second trump (won in dummy) to leave: 

Vul:None Dlr: South	Q1083  2  10  95
9  K65  --  K1083		--  Q987  K  J76
	--  AJ104  --  AQ42

Declarer draws the last trump and plays a heart from dummy, intending to put in the 10. If East happens to have both the K and Q, no problem. East would have to play one of them and declarer could win the ace and play the jack to throw dummy's last diamond. East wins, but declarer has a good heart for dummy's potential club loser. If West wins the 10 with the king, he is endplayed. He has to play either a heart into the AJ or a club into the AQ. Either way, declarer has 10 tricks. 

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