Import 9F64 Main


Shaky Trump Fit


 by Frank Stewart

Los Angeles Times — November 26, 1999

Florida expert Richard Pavlicek showed how to handle a shaky 4-3 fit at the ACBL Summer Championships. (These are known as Moysian fits; Sonny Moyse, a “Bridge World” magazine editor, passionately believed seven trumps are plenty.)

North dealsS Q 10 7WestNorthEastSouth
None vulH A K 5 41 C1 D1 S
D Q 7 22 D2 SPass4 S
C K 8 4PassPassPass
S 9 6 2TableS A 8 5
H J 9 6 3H 10 8 7 2
D K J 9D A 10 8 6 5
C 9 7 2C 5
S K J 4 3
H Q
Lead: D KD 4 3
4 S SouthC A Q J 10 6 3

The defense began with three rounds of diamonds, forcing Pavlicek to ruff. He led a trump to the queen and returned a trump to his king. If East takes the ace, Pavlicek can win any return, draw trumps and run the clubs; but East defended well by ducking twice.

If South led another trump, East would win and cash diamonds. So South started the clubs; and luckily, West, with the last low trump, had to follow suit three times. East discarded since to ruff wouldn’t help him.

Pavlicek then led a fourth club. West ruffed (as good a defense as any); Pavlicek overruffed in dummy (East discarded) and led a heart to his queen to continue clubs. When East ruffed with the ace of trumps, Pavlicek claimed with his last trump and remaining club. Well done!

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© 1999 Frank Stewart