LEARNING CENTER

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This deal is from the 2009 Las Vegas regional.

Vul: West Dir: Both 9 4 A 10 9 3 5 3 2 7 6 5 4   Q 8 3 2 2 J 7 6 K J 10 9 3   6 K J 7 5 A Q 10 9 8 A Q 2   A K J 10 7 5 Q 8 6 4 K 4 8

I held the South cards and made a play that I've never seen before. East opened 1 and I overcalled 1. This was passed back to East who doubled. I redoubled to show extras and West's 2 came back to me. I tried 2 which bought the contract: West North East South        LC  Pass Pass 1  1  Pass Pass Dbl  Rdbl  2  Pass Pass 2 (All Pass)         West led the 2, obviously (from the auction) a singleton. If I played low from dummy, I knew I would be defeated. East would win the K, issue a heart ruff, and have the entries to issue two more heart ruffs--I'd lose the first 6 tricks. What about winning the A at trick one?

Also no good. I'd have to start trumps. The defense would be able to play minors at me.  I'd never have time to develop a second heart trick. For example, say I win the A and play trump. When West gets in he plays clubs, tapping me. I draw trump, but never have time to develop anything other than 5 spade tricks, the A and the K. 

After trying all the possibilities in my mind, and realizing they all fail, I came up with a good idea. I glanced at the opponents' convention card and noticed that they lead LOW from three small. This gave me a chance. I played low from dummy at trick one and casually dropped the Q under East's king! Put yourself in East's shoes.

The lead (2) now looks to East be from xxx.  Declarer has unblocked the Q from Qx. East fell into my trap. He couldn't figure out that the lead was a singleton. He did not play any more hearts--ever. East went into passive mode--thinking he had the hearts stopped. This is just what I needed.

East shifted to a trump which ran to West's queen. West played a diamond to East's ace and East still did not get the message. He continued diamonds. I won, drew trumps and now had the timing to set up my extra heart trick. East looked shocked when West showed out on the second heart. I ended up with five spades, the K and two heart tricks to make 110. As the title says, it was a tricky trick one.

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