Ascot Bridge Club

After the following auction, we arrive in 6NT:

S              W            N             E

1C           1H           1S            Pass

2NT        Pass        6NT        Pass

Pass        Pass        Pass

West leads JS and dummy is tabled:

South                     North

S             Akx                         109xx

H             Q9x                         Axx

D             KJx                         A

C             Axxx                        KQJxx

At first glance our chances look slim, as a quick count leads to 10 top tricks.  There is no hope of a diamond finesse, but we could drive out QS and set up a 11^th trick in spades.  But we have further clues available to us, from both the bidding and the opening lead.

First the opening lead.  Playing standard leads, QS is now marked with East and thanks to the opening lead is now in a finessable position.  Second, it looks very unlikely that KH is onside as West has bid and with only 9 points missing, 2 already identified with East, West is practically marked with KH.

So the 11^th trick is now identified in spades and we must now develop a 12^th trick in one of the red suits.  The easiest way is to develop the throw-in, with West the target, so that he must lead to our QH or into our diamond tenace.

Now to the play.  To engineer the throw-in we must remove all back cards from West’s hand and remove safe exit cards i.e. AD.  So we win the JS in hand with AS, lead small diamond to AD.  Now we run 10S (note East is unlikely to cover if he has 4 spades, seeing the 9S in dummy).  When this holds we lead a small spade from dummy to our KS, West now shows out. 

Now we tackle clubs.  We can afford to take 4 rounds of clubs, but we must ensure that we end up in dummy.  Note we cannot take the fifth round of clubs, as we squeeze ourself of our vital 12^th winning trick – try it !  We don’t need to worry about our lack of direct entry from dummy to hand, because the throw-in will guarantee us our entry.  So we cash AC in hand and then cash KQJC in dummy.  West shows out on the 4^th club – he no longer has any black cards.

We have finally arrived at the crucial time.

South                     North

S                                              9

H             Q9x                         Axx

D             KJ                          

C                                             x

Now we lead a small heart from dummy and insert the 9H from hand.  West is now forced to win and MUST lead a red suit back to you.  Either he leads a diamond into your KJ tenace or he leads a small heart which you let run round to QH.  Note, if East inserts the JH or 10H, then you simply cover with QH and West is faced with the same problem – if he leads a small heart you let it run round to the 9H.

Now you claim the remainder of the tricks, KD in hand and then AH and the final club in dummy.