Vanishing Spades

Vanishing Spades

This deal was played in the 2015 Blue Ribbon Pairs in Denver. At unfavorable vulnerability, South held:

♠ AQ5  
♥ J10853  
♦ Q9  
♣ 1062.

His partner opened 1NT and East overcalled 3♠.

South bid 3♠ and West bid 3♠. North control-bid 4♠ and South signed off in 4♠. How would you play with a club lead?

♠ 1096
♥ AK976
♦ A85
♣ A4
♠ AQ5
♥ J10853
♦ Q9
♣ 1062

Say you win the ♠A at trick one. If you lay down the ♠A, West (yes West!) shows out. With East having all the clubs (and a natural heart trick), prospects look bleak. Likely the spades are wrong.

After the shock of the 3-0 heart break, let's say you play a low diamond from dummy. East takes the king (that's good) and cashes a high club (his partner following suit, completing a high-low). East plays the ♠2 in this position:

♠1096
♥K976
♦A8
♣ --
♠AQ5
♥J1085
♦Q
♣10

You've lost 2 tricks and have to lose the ♠Q. One of your low spades can go on the diamond ace, so it seems you have to finesse your ♠Q to make the contract. Based on the bidding and play, the finesse is sure to lose. But, if RHO has a singleton spade, you could be in business. Watch.

You win the ♠A and cash the ♠Q. Trump a club in dummy (LHO discards) and cash the ♠A to throw a spade (RHO follows). Now, play the ♠K and another heart to endplay East. He has only clubs left and on his club play, you throw your ♠Q and trump in dummy. Here is the Real Deal:

Vul:N-S
Dir: North
♠ 1096
♥ AK976
♦ A85
♣ A4
♠ KJ8743
♥ --
♦ J10762
♣ 53
♠ 2
♥ Q42
♦ K43
♣ KQJ987
♠ AQ5
♥ J10853
♦ Q9
♣ 1062

With all 4 hands in view, follow the play and watch how South lost no spade tricks! The first two tricks were taken by dummy's ♠A and ♠A. Declarer was careful not to play a second high heart. If he had done so, East would have cashed his ♠Q when in, thwarting the endplay. Declarer's small diamond was taken by East's ♠K. East cashed a high club and played his spade. Declarer won the ace, cashed the ♠Q, trumped a club and discarded a spade on the ♠A. The ♠K and a heart put East on play for a ruff-and-sluff.  Declarer lost only one club, one diamond and the ♠Q for a beautiful +620.