What A Defence

Pages: Page 7 of 7

Dealer: West
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeJ 3
  2. heartA K Q 7 6
  3. diamondK J 7 5
  4. clubA 2
  1. spadeA 9
  2. heartJ 5 2
  3. diamondA Q 9 2
  4. clubK 9 6 5
club diamond heart spade NT
N - 4 2 3 2
S - 4 2 3 2
E 1 - - - -
W 1 - - - -
Green square in centre
  1. spade8 6 2
  2. heart10 9 4 3
  3. diamond8
  4. clubJ 8 7 4 3

Contract: 4spade
Declarer: South
Lead: diamondA
  1. spadeK Q 10 7 5 4
  2. heart8
  3. diamond10 6 4 3
  4. clubQ 10
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1NT Dble 2club 2spade
3club 3heart Pass 3spade
Pass 4spade End
Because Kirby had played diamondQ at trick two! It could hardly call for a heart as he was known to have at least two, so Armstrong worked out that it must mean a spade. What a defence!

Note that if East returns a club or heart then South can get home. A heart allows declarer to pitch two diamonds on the hearts and then turn his attention to trumps. Eventually West will be squeezed in the minor suits. Alternatively the fifth heart can be established. Of course the club suit is frozen - the defence cannot attack from either side.
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