LEARNING CENTER

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This deal was (mis)played by a Southwestern expert (and National Champion) who shall remain nameless. Can we all make a new year's resolution to get the deals right that we should get right? With both sides vulnerable, his partner dealt and opened 2NT. Responder held:

 108432  
 --  
 A75432  
 A4.
 

He transferred to spades and then bid 4. This is natural (showing at least 5-4 in spades and diamonds) with slam interest. Opener bid 4. What's that? Likely some sort of slam interest (certainly not a signoff). Responder didn't know what to do next (Blackwood with a void is generally a poor idea), so he just guessed to jump to 6. Everyone passed and the Q was led:

AQ7  A2  KQ986  KQ6

108432  --  A75432  A4

Opener did well to leave you in diamonds (instead of trying for a slightly higher score in 6). With the shaky spade suit, 6 might fail, while 6 is actually 100%. Can you see how?

This is one of those draw trump, strip the hand and claim deals. Yet, our anti-hero messed it up. He ruffed the opening lead and played a diamond to the king (trumps were 1-1-). He cashed 3 clubs throwing a spade and then the A throwing another spade. He came to hand with the A and led a spade to the...queen. Ugh.  All he had to to was cover whatever spade LHO played and claim on an endplay. This was the Real Deal:

 

Vul:Both Dlr: North	AQ7  A2  KQ986  KQ6
J95  QJ1087  10  J532		K6  K96543  J  10987
	108432  --  A75432  A4

As you can see, the Q lost to the king and back came a spade, down one.       

In my mind, this is an easy one. However, if a national champion could go wrong, I suppose so could you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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