I Transfered, but I Declared!

Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 03/01/2020
Level: Advanced

This deal was played by Chris Willenken in the 2019 Southeastern Regional Knockout Teams. He used a Texas Transfer, but ended up being declarer, and did quite a great job of it! With both sides vulnerable, he held:

♠ K109864  
♥ 863  
♦ 8  
♣ 1043
 

His partner opened 2NT, and I agree with Chris's decision to insist on game (the good 6-card suit combined with being Vulnerable at IMPs makes it the educated guess). He transfered (Texas-style with 4♠), but wound up declaring. How is that? LHO doubled (lead-directing), passed back to him. He now bid 4♠ and played it there with the ♠7 lead:

♠ A2
♥ KQ
♦ AQ52
♣ A9865
 
♠ K109864
♥ 863
♦ 8
♣ 1043

He won the ♠A and played the ♠K. LHO won the ♠A and returned a heart, RHO playing hi-lo. From the LDD and play, it looked like hearts were 6-2, so he decided he wouldn't be able to trump his losing heart in dummy. Furthermore, even if he wanted to trump a heart in dummy, the only way to reach his hand was to play ♠A, diam,ond ruff--and that would give up the ability to finesse the ♠Q.

He laid down the ♠A--low, low, queen. He followed restricted choice and led a spade to his 10, LHO throwing a heart. Next came a winning diamond finesse, followed by the ♠A to throw a losing club. Then came a diamond ruff to leave this unusual position:

 

Vul:Both
Dlr: North
♠ --
♥ --
♦ 5
♣ 9865
 
♠--
♥ J975
♦ K
♣ --
  ♠ J7
♥ --
♦ --
♣ KQJ
  ♠ K98
♥ 8
♦ --
♣ 10
 

Declarer has to lose a heart and club, but a trump trick? He exited with a losing heart (a club would also work). LHO had to win and play a red suit. Declarer ruffed and then exited with his losing club to take the last 2 tricks. Brilliant!

This was the Real Deal:

 

 

 

 

Vul:Both
Dlr: North
♠ A2
♥ KQ
♦ AQ52
♣ A9865
 
♠ Q
♥ AJ9754
♦ K10943
♣ 7
  ♠ J753
♥ 102
♦ J76
♣ KQJ2
  ♠ K109864
♥ 863
♦ 8
♣ 1043