You are in a 6D contact after your partner(dealer) opened 1NT and your LHO bid lots in Hearts. The bidding was
1NT-P-2S!-4H
Dbl - p - 5D -p
6D - End
(2S is minor suit stayman)
The lead is heart Q and the dummy tables
Qxx
AK98
Axx
K32
(Dummy)
Kx
x
KQJxxx
A985
(You)
There is no option but to go up with the Ace of hearts on the lead, RHO follows suit ( most likely a single ton) Looking at a potential club and spade loser, declarer has to be careful.
Declarer did this: Played a low spade right way, at trick two. West with some hesitation played low and the Queen of spades won the trick. Trumps were drawn in three rounds ending in dummy. Then played the Heart King, drop the Spade King, East too discarded a spade and West obviously followed suit. This marks East with exactly 7 hearts and one diamond, 1+ spades and ? clubs. All that is left to do is to play the club suit for not more than one loser. There is no end play situation possible, there was a chance if the trumps broke evenly.
K32 opposite A984
With six cards missing, if the suit breaks 3-3 all is well. If it is 4-2 with three of the club suit honours (Q,J,T) with the double ton, there is only one club loser. That was the case. LHO held QT of clubs. Declarer played Ace and King of clubs and exited in a club. West had Axx;QJTxxxx;x;QT Voila! The contact is home.
What would have happened if West wins Ace of spade at trick two and switches to heart/spade/diamond? Then the declarer can discard one club on spade queen and another on heart King. Same result. I do not know if there is a safer way to play this hand. Or if there is better defence.
Actually, This is what should have happened. When this hand actually came up, South played in 4NT. :D
I do not think there is a scientific way to bid it after such an intervention. Wonder how the auction would have been playing a strong club system. Also, I think North can chance a bid of 6NT (Especially at pairs?) As there is a high chance of heart ruff at trick one. With hearts doubly stopped, it shouldn't be a problem. What say?
Happy New Year!
Cheers
Guthi
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1 comment:
I think he should have pulled trumps before playing the spade, but other than that it was very well played. Its the classic "Dilemma Coup", more popular today as the "Morton's Fork Coup" - damned if you go up with the honour, damned if you don't. Yeah yeah I just love the terminology :)
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