Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 02/01/2024
Level: Intermediate
For the seventh consecutive month, we visit the 2023 Senior Team Trials. This deal became very complex, but could have been simple:
Vul:None
Dlr: South |
 Q1072
 A942
 K94
 A6
|
|
98
J10763
J108765
--
|
|
653
KQ
AQ3
Q9743
|
| |
AKJ4
85
2
KJ10852
|
|
South reached 4 (no opposing bidding) and received the J lead. The J held and the next diamond was ruffed by declarer. Following general principles, he went to work on his long suit. He led a low club. Not wanting to "ruff on air," West discarded a diamond. Dummy's A won. Now what?
After some slow, tortuous twists and turns, declarer eventually took 10 tricks (but could have been set along the way). The ping pong ball went back and forth as declarer should have been set but was allowed to struggle home. Do you see a simple way to avoid the torture?
After the A wins at trick 2, declarer has a "sure" (barring any ridiculous breaks) thing. Trump dummy's remaining diamond. Lay down two high trumps. Cross to the A. Play dummy's other trumps (needed if spades are 4-1). Then take a marked club finesse and claim 10 tricks (2 diamond ruffs in hand, 4 spade tricks, A and 3 club tricks) -- easy-peasy.
At the other table, West bid 2NT (red suits) over South's 1 opening. East-West sacrificed in 5 doubled, down only one.
