Wednesday 12 August 2015

11.08.15


Board 20


I thought it was about time we revived this blog.
This was an interesting board.

North

  • ♠
    • K
      •  
    • 7
      •  
    • 6
  • ♥
    • K
      •  
    • J
      •  
    • 5
      •  
    • 4
  • ♦
    • K
      •  
    • 8
      •  
    • 6
      •  
    • 4
  • ♣
    • 7
      •  
    • 5

West

  • ♠
    • J
      •  
    • 8
      •  
    • 5
      •  
    • 3
  • ♥
    • 8
      •  
    • 7
  • ♦
    • Q
      •  
    • 10
      •  
    • 7
      •  
    • 2
  • ♣
    • J
      •  
    • 10
      •  
    • 3                                 

East


  • ♠
    • Q
      •  
    • 9
      •  
    • 2
  • ♥
    • Q
      •  
    • 10
      •  
    • 9
      •  
    • 6
      •  
    • 2
  • ♦
    • J
      •  
    • 5
  • ♣
    • 9
      •  
    • 6
      •  
    • 2

South


  • ♠
    • A
      •  
    • 10
      •  
    • 4
  • ♥
    • A
      •  
    • 3
  • ♦
    • A
      •  
    • 9
      •  
    • 3
  • ♣
    • A
      •  
    • K
      •  
    • Q
      •  
    • 8
      •  
    • 4
Len & Sheila got a complete top for their optimistic 6NT contract.

In fact 6NT can be made on any lead, provided declarer (South) reads the cards accurately.

On a diamond lead, win with the Ace, cash 3 rounds of clubs, discarding a spade.
It seems logical to next try the heart finesse. However, a diamond return from East appears to compromise declarer's entry position to execute a double squeeze. (Please correct me if I am wrong!)

Instead, South could concede a diamond  and win the (say) diamond return. Next cash two rounds of hearts and a fourth club discarding a heart.

This is the position:

N) S K7   H J   D 6
E) S Q92  H Q
S) S AT4 C 4
W) S J85  D Q

When South leads the club 4, West must unguard the spades in order to keep the diamond queen. South discards the diamond jack, and now East must unguard spades to keep the heart queen. Three spade tricks now complete declarer's slam.

Five pairs made 12 tricks in no trumps. I think it is unlikely that play went this way, and would be interested to learn what happened on other tables.

At our table, Paul & Adrian were in the usual 3NT contract.. Adrian made 12 tricks by means of an endplay.
He played the Ace on partner's queen, cashed all his winners leaving this position:

N) immaterial
E) S J8    D Q
S) S AT   D 9
W) immaterial

He threw me in with a diamond, and I had to concede the last two tricks.
.







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3 comments:

  1. Foxymoron12 August 2015 at 22:31

    6NT is indeed optimistic. On a diamond lead, you can test the clubs and play the diamonds for three tricks, so best is a heart lead. You play low from dummy, test the clubs and then duck a diamond to East. East cannot play a second heart, and that gives you time to cash the clubs when there is indeed a double squeeze with East guarding hearts and West diamonds. Neither can keep a spade guard.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AndyCon12 August 2015 at 22:55

      Thanks for your comment Paul. But on a heart lead, declarer immediately discovers that QH is with East. On a diamond lead, would it not be more difficult for declarer to select the winning line?

      Delete
    2. AndyCon13 August 2015 at 07:30

      Sorry, I didn't spot the play for three diamond tricks!

      Delete

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