Count Those Tricks

Pages: Page 4 of 4

Dealer: South
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spade10 8
  2. heartA 6 5
  3. diamond6 4 3
  4. clubA Q 5 4 2
  1. spadeA Q 6 5 4
  2. heart10 8 4
  3. diamondK
  4. clubJ 10 8 7
club diamond heart spade NT
N 2 4 2 2 3
S 2 4 2 2 3
E - - - - -
W - - - - -
Green square in centre
  1. spade7 2
  2. heart9 7 3 2
  3. diamond10 9 5 2
  4. clubK 9 3

Contract: 3NT
Declarer: South
Lead: spade4
  1. spadeK J 9 3
  2. heartK Q J
  3. diamondA Q J 8 7
  4. club6
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1diamond
1spade 2club Pass 2NT
Pass 3NT End
When this hand occurred originally there were many good players who lazily played a diamond the queen. West switched to clubJ and declarer could only succeed now by the double-dummy play of winning clubA and finessing twice in diamonds. Declarer should have counted his tricks. One spade, one club and three hearts meant that only four diamonds were required, and the safest way to play for these was a diamond to the ace, cross back to heartA for another diamond play and, if necessary, cross over to clubA for a final diamond towards hand.

It is possible to construct hands (East with both minor suit kings) where this line loses, but on balance it does seem best.
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