In Nuria Almirall's Position

 

by Fernando Lema

 

 

 Dealer: South, None Vulnerable

 

 A 8 5
 7
 A J 3 2
A J 9 6 2

 4    
 A K 10 4 2 
 Q 9 8 
 7 5 4 3  

Q 9 7 3 2 
 9 6 5 3
 K 6 5 
10
 

 K J 10 6 
 Q J 8
 10 7 4
 K Q 8

 

West

North    

  East    

  South      

 PuigDoria

M. Almirall

 Llopard

N. Almirall

 

 

 

1

1

Double

3

Pass

Pass

4

Pass

4

End

      

 

 Contract: 4

 

 Lead: K

 

 This hand was played during the second session of the Catalunya Open Tournament, 18 January, 2010. South was the wonderful Spanish Master Nuria Almirall, who displayed her extraordinary carding skills in this interesting hand..

 

West led K which took the trick, and continued with 9, taken by East's K who played 6. South played Q, covered by West's A and trumped in dummy with 5.

 

 South took her A followed by all, and then led a trump to the J  in hand, which took the trick. West discarded the 2.

 

 Far from being discouraged by the unfriendly trump distribution, she played as follows: she took her K and followed with the Q, trumped by East with the 7. The trump coup was getting close.

East returned a heart and South's J took the trick. Dummy discarded a club and the following ending was reached:

 

 

  
 
 A J 3 
A J   

      
 10  
 Q 9
 7 5

Q 9 
 9 
 6 5 
 

 

 K 10   
 
 10 7 
 8

 

 South now played a to the J,which won the trick and then played her A. Both opponents followed suit and then she played the 3, which left East powerless.