Column 7B54 (5-19-85) by Richard Pavlicek

Trump Coup Nets Crucial Overtrick

Anyone could make four spades on this deal; but that is not the test of a duplicate player. The scoring is such that every trick is important — overtricks are worth their weight in gold.

4. 4 by South

None Vul	J 2 A K J 5 4 A J A K 7 3
7 Q 10 8 K 10 9 8 7 5 10 8 5		A Q 6 3 9 7 2 6 4 3 Q 9 2
Lead: 10	K 10 9 8 5 4 6 3 Q 2 J 6 4

West Pass

North 1 4

East Pass All Pass

South 2

For example, if one player makes an overtrick (11 tricks) and all the other South players make their contract exactly (10 tricks), the player with the overtrick gets a “top” score. Rovner all but insured himself a top by scoring two overtricks, a feat which required very skillful play.

The diamond finesse was taken at trick one, North’s jack winning, and the spade jack was led and passed around. Another spade lead was won by the eight, as West shed a diamond. It now appeared that East was destined to win two trump tricks (since dummy lacked another spade to lead), but a trump coup was still possible.

Declarer cashed the ace-king of hearts and ruffed a heart, then crossed to dummy with a club. A good heart was led, East shedding a diamond (he cannot gain by ruffing) and South a club. On the next heart lead, East threw his last diamond, as did South.

The diamond ace was led and East threw a club (ruffing would make it easy), and South made the key play — ruffing this good trick to shorten his trumps. Finally, dummy was reentered with a club and East could win only his trump ace.