A Modified Rodwell File

Author: Larry Cohen
Date of publish: 07/01/2017
Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Eric Rodwell's classic book, the Rodwell Files, is loaded with advice for advanced-to-expert players. I have taken the liberty of slightly modifying a deal from his book as follows:

South holds:

♠ --  
♥ AKQJ1073
♦ A53  
♣ KQ8.
 

With neither side vulnerable, East opens 3♠. South decides he is too strong for a 4♠ overcall. He starts with double and is less than thrilled when his partner removes to 4♠ (no big surprise that partner bid spades!). Anyway, North must have some values, so South jumps to 6♠ and buys it there. Thank goodness partner doesn't correct to 6♠! The ♠6 is led and South sees:

♠ KQJ32
♥ 42
♦ 742
♣ A109
 
♠ --
♥ AKQJ1073
♦ A53
♣ KQ8

South has two diamond losers. The only source of discards is dummy's spades. There are entry issues to consider.

Declarer wins the lead and draws trump (they are 4-0). East discards two diamonds and two spades. Now what?

Will you finesse West for the ♠J? If so, you can lead the ♠8 to dummy's ♠9 and if it wins, lead the ♠K for a ruffing finesse. East, who is marked with the ♠KQJ1098 won't also have the ♠A (he preempted). From the bidding and lead, you know West had a singleton diamond. You can throw a diamond on the ♠K and later get back to the ♠A to throw another diamond on the spades. Is that a good plan? No, for two reasons. One, a clever West player can thwart your plan if on the first round of clubs, he inserts the ♠J. That means only one dummy entry and no chance. And two, take a look at the full deal:

Vul:N-S
Dlr: East
♠ KQJ32
♥ 42
♦ 742
♣ A109
 
♠ A10954
♥ 9865
♦ 6
♣ 654
  ♠ 876
♥ --
♦ KQJ1098
♣ J732
  ♠ --
♥ AKQJ1073
♦ A53
♣ KQ8
 

As you can see, East has the ♠J--a clubf finesse results in down two.

Assuming that West held a singleton diamond and the ♠A, there was a 100% line of play available. It didn't matter who had the ♠J. After drawing trump, declarer makes the brilliant move of leading the king of clubs and overtaking with dummy's ace!

Now comes the ♠K, throwing a diamond. West wins, but that's all the defense gets. Whether West plays another spade or a club, declarer gains access to the dummy and has 12 tricks.