The only good news for declarer on today's deal is that the spade finesse
works. The trumps are foul, and both minor
suits lie badly for him. It would seem that
there are three diamond tricks and two trump
tricks to lose.
Both sides vulnerable South deals
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
1 |
2 |
3(1) |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
|
(1) Invitational
Opening Lead:
4
West, who had shown considerable restraint by bidding only once and
burying his second suit, led the
4.
Declarer won dummy's nine and led a low
trump to the seven and jack. West's diamond
discard was a disappointment, but declarer
refused to give up and set out to take as
many trump tricks as he could.
He cashed the
K,
led to the
A,
ruffed a club, went to the
A,
ruffed dummy's remaining club, and ruffed
his last spade. With eight tricks already in
and the ace of trumps a certain winner, this
was the end position, with the lead in North:
Declarer led a diamond to the king and ace. West could play whatever he
liked. If East did not ruff the next trick,
he would have to ruff the one after that to
lead away from the king-ten of trumps into
declarer's divided honour combination.
By maintaining his poise and essentially letting the deal play itself,
declarer had telescoped five defensive
tricks into three.