This deal was (mis)played in the finals of the 2018 U.S. Team Trials. South held:
AKQ874
93
Q3
A85.
With nobody vulnerable, his partner passed and RHO opened a weak 2. I'd be fine with a 3 overcall (showing an intermediate hand like this and a good 6+ card spade suit). However, at the table, 2 was chosen. LHO raised to 4 and partner's 4 bought the contract.
The A was led:
J1062 A6 J75 Q973 |
AKQ874 93 Q3 A85 |
The defense played ace, king and another diamond, ruffed and overruffed. Declarer drew trumps, finding the 2 bidder with all 3 of them. Now what?
He needed to lose only one club trick and also discard a heart on dummy's clubs. Hoping for a 3-3 break with the king on his left, declarer played ace and another club. This was the Real Deal:
Vul:None Dlr: North |
J1062 A6 J75 Q973 |
|
-- Q52 AK9842 J1062 |
953 KJ10874 106 K4 |
|
AKQ874 93 Q3 A85 |
West correctly played low on the second club ("splitting" his honors could have proved disastrous). Declarer could try dummy's Q (resulting in down 2), but he guessed to play low, but still down 1 (East took the K and the defense still had to get a heart trick).
So, how could declarer have made it? The bidding and play marked East with 3=6=2=2 shape (he opened a weak two bid in hearts and showed up with 3 spades and 2 diamonds). Knowing he had only 2 clubs, the right play is clear. Go to dummy and lead a club to the 8! This "intrafinesse" wins the contract. West wins this trick, but later the A drops the king and a marked finesse in clubs allows declarer to throw his heart on the fourth club for +420.
Note that the defense could have prevailed with a heart shift at trick 2.