One Nil to the Ladies

Pages: Page 5 of 5

Dealer: North
Vuln: Game All
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spade10 6 3
  2. heartA K 3
  3. diamond10 7 4 2
  4. clubA 10 4
  1. spadeK 9 8 4
  2. heartQ J 2
  3. diamond9 6
  4. club9 8 7 2
club diamond heart spade NT
N 4 5 3 2 5
S 5 5 4 2 5
E - - - - -
W - - - - -
Green square in centre
  1. spadeJ 7 5 2
  2. heart10 9 7 6
  3. diamond8 5
  4. club6 5 3

Contract: 6diamond
Declarer: South
Lead: club9
  1. spadeA Q
  2. heart8 5 4
  3. diamondA K Q J 3
  4. clubK Q J
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1club* Pass 2diamond
Pass 2NT~ Pass 4club
Pass 4diamond Pass 4NT
Pass 5heart Pass 6diamond
Pass Pass Pass

* playing strong NT
~ confirming weak NT

It was a no-lose ploy which might have succeeded without the far-sighted defence of the British ladies. West played heartQ on declarer's first heart and East played the ten, confirming the nine. This allowed West to continue to unblock in hearts, confident that East would be able to take the third round. On winning with heart9 East switched to a spade to sink the contract. This was excellent defence - all the more remarkable because the deal comes from back in 1953 and shows that the girls could play a bit even then!

In the other room the same contract made when the male West failed to unblock and had to lead in to South's tence.
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