The Practical Line

Dealer: West
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: IMPs

  1. spadeQ 10 8
  2. heartK Q J 9 4
  3. diamondA J
  4. club8 7 5
  1. spadeJ 6 5
  2. heart10 7 5 2
  3. diamond10 8 3 2
  4. club4 2
club diamond heart spade NT
N 3 6 3 5 5
S 3 6 3 5 5
E - - - - -
W - - - - -
Green square in centre
  1. spadeK 4 3
  2. heartA 8 6 3
  3. diamond5
  4. clubQ J 10 9 6

Contract: 6diamond
Declarer: South
Lead: club4

  1. spadeA 9 7 2
  2. heart
  3. diamondK Q 9 7 6 4
  4. clubA K 3
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
Pass 1heart 2club 2diamond
Pass 2heart Pass 2spade
Pass 3diamond Pass 4club
Pass 4diamond Pass 5club
Pass 6diamond End
South had found a very practical line when he continued with spadeQ. East covered so South won with the ace, drew trumps and conceded a trick to spadeJ.

An alternative variation in the middle game would have been to ruff a heart low, draw trumps and play a low spade to the ten. This would have been a winner had West had both missing spades honours - but that would have left East with a very questionable 2club overcall. Indeed, you might have said that he had one anyway!
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