Rand McNally

Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 06/01/2022
Level: Intermediate

This deal was played on BBO by my friend David Berkowitz with his student. Playing matchpoints, as South (nobody vulnerable), he held: 

♠ AJ  
♥ K1087  
♦ KQ86  
♣ K65.
 

RHO opened 1♠ and David overcalled 1NT, raised to 3NT. The ♠3 was led and he saw: 

♠ 9832
♥ A92
♦ A92
♣ Q42
 
♠ AJ
♥ K1087
♦ KQ86
♣ K65

There aren't 9 top tricks, but there is potential for maybe four diamonds (with this lead and East's opening 1♠ bid) and maybe three hearts. Along with one in each black suit that would be 9.

David played the ♠9 from dummy and won East's ♠J with the ♠K.

He played a heart to the ace and ran the ♠9. Bad news. It lost to West's ♠J.

Back came the ♠10. Now what?

The title "Rand McNally" (for anyone under 35) refers to the map company. David had a roadmap of the opponent's cards. East had opened 1♠ and West led a low diamond then the ♠10. So, diamonds had to be 3-3. Since East, playing standard, had opened 1♠ with only three of them, he had to be exactly 4=4=3=2.

Accordingly, David won the ♠A and played a club to the king and ducked a club. This was the real deal: 

Vul:East
Dlr: None
♠ 9832
♥ A92
♦ A92
♣ Q42
 
♠ 654
♥ J4
♦ 1043
♣ J9873
  ♠ KQ107
♥ Q653
♦ J75
♣ A10
  ♠ AJ
♥ K1087
♦ KQ86
♣ K65
 

Never mind taking nine tricks; David had 10! He was able to later enter dummy with the ♠Q to take the marked heart finesse. He took one spade, three hearts, four diamonds and two clubs for a top board.