Retaining Control

I was East on this deal from an online IMP pair event. Our opponents bid accurately to 4 as my partner and I displayed great skill in passing. Note opener’s third-round heart raise to show three-card support, an important concept in sound bidding.

North deals	J 10 5 2		West	North	East	South
None vul	A Q 5			1	Pass	1
	K Q 10 2		Pass	1	Pass	3
	4 2		Pass	3	Pass	4
Q 6 4		9 8 7	Pass	Pass	Pass
K		J 9 6 4
J 9 8 7		6
K Q 9 8 5		A J 10 7 6
	A K 3
	10 8 7 3 2
	A 5 4 3
4 South	3

My partner led the K and continued the suit. South ruffed and led a low heart intending to finesse, but the appearance of the king changed that. After winning the A, declarer paused to consider: If he won the Q and continued hearts, I would be able to tap him out with club leads. Eventually he decided to leave hearts alone and lead diamonds, letting me ruff the second round. I exited with a spade, and declarer eventually had to rely on the spade finesse — down one.

Declarer had a blind spot here, and missed an almost surefire way to succeed. After winning the A he should lead a low heart toward his hand (keeping the queen in dummy) and I would take the jack. A spade or a diamond return allows him to draw trumps and claim, so I would lead another club. Now declarer can retain trump control by discarding a spade and ruffing with the Q. I still get another trump trick, but South makes the contract.

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© 1998 Richard Pavlicek