Some contracts offer few chances for success but this declarer saw a
slim possibility and played accordingly. It's a good example of
not giving up even when the prospects are dim.
Scoring: Matchpoints (Pairs)
Hand #35
Dlr
N
Vul
E/W
Q972
A2
932
J743
J8
Q8543
J10876
6
105
KJ107
KQ
Q10982
AK643
96
A54
AK5
West
North
East
South
Pass
Pass
1
Pass
2
Pass
4
All Pass
BIDDING: South's hand was
top heavy with aces and kings so he leaped to game after his partner's
raise.
PLAY: West led his
singleton club and declarer played the jack covered by the queen and
ace. South saw four potential losers: one heart, two diamonds,
and one club. He hoped to eliminate a loser with a 3-3 club
division or some sort of end play. He drew trumps in two rounds
and then played the king of clubs. He was disappointed when West
showed out but he continued with a third round. East won and
played the king of diamonds. Declarer won this trick and followed
with a heart to dummy's ace. South then ruffed dummy's last club
and played his last heart. The defender who won the heart would
have to lead a diamond or allow declarer to ruff in one hand and
discard a diamond from the other. East won the diamond queen, but
it was over for the defense. East's forced return of a club or
heart allowed declarer to sluff his diamond and make his contract.
An opening diamond lead would probably defeat the contract.
Declarer could still succeed by end playing East for a club return away
from the queen but it would be a difficult play to find. As for
declarer, he saw the possibility of a blocked diamond suit and took
advantage of it.
