Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 03/01/2021
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
This deal was played during the early Covid-19 shelter-in-place days on BBO by Chris Willenken. As South, he ended up in 6
with a trump lead:
 AK652
AK2
 4
 KJ102
|
| |
3
QJ1093
K8753
A4
|
He won in dummy and played a diamond to his king and West's ace.
West returned a trump, won in hand, East following.
He played the the A and trumped a spade, both opponents following, then trumped a diamond with dummy's last trump (both opponents following).
Now he trumped the third round of spades, but bad news, West showed out (spades were 5-2).
He drew the last trump (East had it). West threw a diamond and declarer threw dummy's little spade to leave:
K
--
--
KJ102
|
| |
--
--
875
A4
|
Declarer needed the rest, so had to take 4 club tricks. Without counting, you would simply take the A and then finesse, hoping West started with Qxx.
But, counting is a good idea. East was known to have started with 5 spades and 3 trumps. He followed suit twice in diamonds. That means East started with at most 3 clubs. So, can East have been dealt the needed xxxx? No.
Declarer's only chance was that the Q would fall. Yes, the adage is 8-ever, 9-never; with 8 (or fewer), you always finesse. But here, that couldn't possibly work. Declarer took his only chance and played the ace and king. He was rewarded for his thoughtful play, because this was the Real deal:
| |
AK652
AK2
4
KJ102
|
|
J4
75
AQ109
98765
|
|
Q10987
864
J62
Q3
|
| |
3
QJ1093
K8753
A4
|
|
Making 6!
