East-West vulnerable, East deals
NORTH
♠Q 10
♥J 8 5
♦A 8 4
♣Q J 10 5 2
WEST EAST
♠J ♠A K 9 6 5 4 2
♥K 9 6 4 3 ♥10 7
♦J 10 5 ♦7 3 2
♣8 7 4 3 ♣6
SOUTH
♠8 7 3
♥A Q 2
♦K Q 9 6
♣A K 9
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
3♠ Dbl Pass 4♣
Pass 4♦ Pass 5♦
All pass
Opening lead: Jack of ♠
It is often said that it is better to be lucky than good. North’s conservative decision to bid only four clubs, combined with South’s decision to bid four diamonds when he might well have passed or raised clubs instead, led them into the only game contract that had a chance. Had South’s three spades included any one of the spades held by West or North, three no trump would have romped home with overtricks. Even trading South’s eight of spades with East’s nine would have been sufficient. Five clubs will fail with two spade losers and an inevitable heart loser.
East cashed two spade tricks before shifting to a heart. Holding seven spades to the ace-king, East was not likely to hold an outside king for his pre-empt. Declarer rose with his ace of hearts and led his remaining spade. What was West to do? Should he discard, South would be home with five diamond tricks, five club tricks, and one heart trick. West chose to ruff with the 10 of diamonds, leaving South with the losing option of finessing East for the jack. South wasn’t buying. He over-ruffed with dummy’s ace and led a diamond back to his king. When the jack of diamonds fell under his queen, he drew East’s remaining trump with his nine of diamonds and claimed the balance.
Five diamonds bid and made was a great result for North-South. We ask you, were they lucky or good? (01/04/18)