Another
deal from the President's Cup.
Dealer N Love All.
South's
(Royce Alexander) sequence showed 22-23 points (he
upgraded because of the good controls and both
majors), North then transferred to hearts and when
South showed a super fit North jumped to slam.
West
led the ten of diamonds, how do you play?
Solution
This is a textbook hand. Declarer covered with the jack, East played the queen and South won. Now a heart to the ace, ace of diamonds ruff a diamond and two top clubs followed by a club ruff eliminated the minors. Now a heart from dummy and when East followed South finessed the heart jack. If West won he would have to play a spade to give declarer three spade tricks, or if East initially held three hearts, then there would be no heart loser. An
improvement on this play is possible. South
could have finessed the diamond eight at trick two
and then eliminated clubs. Then he would
have made the contract even if West had three
hearts as he could throw West in with the third
heart, while still having enough trumps for the
ruff and discard.
Thanks to Royce Alexander for
reporting this deal.
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