Defensive Problem Solved Neatly

Pages: Page 5 of 5

Dealer: North
Vuln: Love All
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeJ 6 3
  2. heartQ J 10 7 6
  3. diamond10 3
  4. clubK 9 4
  1. spade10 8 5 4 2
  2. heartA 9 8
  3. diamondA Q 8 6
  4. club3
club diamond heart spade NT
N 2 - 1 - 2
S 2 - 1 - 2
E - 1 - 1 -
W - 1 - 1 -
Green square in centre
  1. spade9 7
  2. heartK 4 2
  3. diamondJ 7 2
  4. clubQ 8 7 6 5

Contract: 3NT
Declarer: South
Lead: spade2
  1. spadeA K Q
  2. heart5 3
  3. diamondK 9 5 4
  4. clubA J 10 2
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
Pass Pass 1club*
Pass 1diamond Pass 1NT
Pass 3heart~ Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Pass

* strong
~ 6/7 points, 5/6 hearts

East rose with heartK to protect his partner's entry and continued with spades. South won spadeA, crossed to clubK and took a club finesse. When West showed out he knew that he was sunk. West rose with diamondQ to win the next trick and played a third round of spades. The contract eventually finished two down.

East could have defeated the contract in a second way by switching to diamondJ when in with heartK, but this was a high risk play without any justification from the bidding or play.
02/04/20026: While proof reading this deal I saw a much more advantageous line double dummy, albeit probably unsuccessful. The first two tricks are the same but now declarer plays club9 from the dummy. I think East has to cover so South wins and plays a second heart, won by East. If a spade is returned then South wins, crosses to clubK and throws a spade from hand on the heart led from dummy. West has to play a diamond and the defence has to be careful to gain the necessary five tricks in total.
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