When the Crossroads is Reached

Pages: Page 5 of 6

Dealer: North
Vuln: E-W
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeJ 4
  2. heartA Q J 5 3
  3. diamond8 6
  4. clubA J 5 3
  1. spade10 9 3 2
  2. heart7 4
  3. diamond7 5 4
  4. club9 8 7 4
club diamond heart spade NT
N 4 1 4 1 2
S 4 - 4 1 2
E - - - - -
W - - - - -
Green square in centre
  1. spadeK Q 6
  2. heartK 9 8 2
  3. diamondK Q J 9 3
  4. club6

Contract: 5club
Declarer: North
Lead: diamondK
  1. spadeA 8 7 5
  2. heart10 6
  3. diamondA 10 2
  4. clubK Q 10 2
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1heart 2diamond Dble
Pass 2heart Pass 3diamond
Pass 4club Pass 5club
Pass Pass Pass
As happened at the table, if you continue with spadeK or another diamond declarer can ruff a diamond in hand with clubA, return to dummy and draw the trumps. With the vital heart still in dummy there is an entry to declarer's hearts and that makes eleven tricks - four hearts, four trumps, two aces and a diamond ruff. Ah, you say, after cashing diamondQ I switch back to a heart to break the communications. Better, but a worse fate awaits you. North wins, draws trumps ending in hand and proceeds to run her heart winners to squeeze you in diamond and spade, forcing you to throw either a high spade or diamondJ!! If you duck, declarer cannot succeed.
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