Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 05/01/2023
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
This Real Deal was defended beautifully by Sjoert Brink in the semifinal of the 2022 World Championships:
As West, he held:
752
KQ863
3
10762
On lead after 2 P 4 (All Pass), he led his singleton diamond:
Vul:Both
Dlr: South |
J4
A1075
AQ6
AQ94
|
|
752
KQ863
3
10762
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Declarer played the Q and East won the K and returned a lowish-looking diamond, ruffed by West. Now what?
Here is the full deal:
Vul:Both
Dlr: South |
J4
A1075
AQ6
AQ94
|
|
752
KQ863
3
10762
|
|
K8
94
KJ10752
K83
|
| |
AQ10963
J2
984
J5
|
|
According to the double-dummy analysis, 4 can't be defeated. Because of all those useful jacks, declarer can handle any return. With the aid of the spade finesse, he can draw trump and lose only 1 trick in either clubs or hearts. Suppose West returns a club at trick 3? Declarer wins the ace and leads the J. After trump are gone, he plays the J to set up a discard for the heart loser.
What if West exits with the K? Now, declarer wins, draws trump and plays a heart to set up a discard for the club loser.
But declarer didn't know what we know. Brink played a low heart at trick 3. He knew declarer couldn't afford to duck this (from South's point of view, East would win the heart and issue another diamond ruff). Sure enough, declarer went up with the A at trick 3. He drew trump, but could no longer make the contract (having to lose a trick in both clubs and hearts).
At the other table, North was declarer and was never challenged, emerging with an overtrick for +650 and a 13-imp swing.
