Mountnessing Bridge Club

Board 13: Part-score interest!

Hand played on	25th January 2007
Board number 13	Red Section
Dealer	North
Vulnerability	Both
Submitted by	Alaric Cundy

	North ª 2 © QT986 ¨ J4 § J6432
West ª AK65 © 542 ¨ QT86 § T7		East ª T73 © J73 ¨ K3 § KQ985	North	Bidding: East	South	West
	South ª QJ984 © AK ¨ A9752 § A		No No	No 2§	1ª 2¨	No End
			No No	No 2§	1ª 2¨	No End

Humble part-scores can often provide interest - and here is an example! The bidding seemed routine to me, but the hand was only occasionally played in 2¨ in practice. I obediently led my ten of clubs, which was ducked all round to Declarer's Ace. Declarer tried the Jack of spades, which I took, and played a diamond to the 4, King, and Ace. Declarer cashed the Ace and King of hearts, then played the Queen of spades, covered, and ruffed. A spade was discarded on the queen of hearts, and then the ten of hearts was run round to me, so I trumped. Partner had a natural spade winner. Declarer should now be in a position to make the contract: East tried the Club King, which Declarer ruffed. If another trump is played then the defence makes in total 2 spades and three trumps, but Declarer tried to cash the winning spade first, which East was able to trump, for one off.

If West plucks up courage and leads a trump at trick one - a ploy that was rather suggested given the bidding, but discouraged by West's trump holding - then this contract will always fail by one trick, so long as the defenders do not ever lead spades, as Declarer will lose three spades and three trumps.

As ever, there are some ifs and buts on this hand. Firstly, what happens if 1ª is passed out? If Declarer unblocks the hearts, plays Ace other diamond, and then exits in diamonds whenever the lead is gained, then seven tricks should materialise (four tops plus three trumps). Indeed, one declarer made eight tricks, possibly courtesy of scoring with the Queen of hearts. Then what happens if South doubles the 2§ bid (for take-out)? One thing that might happen is that North declares in 2©, and with the kind trump break that contract looks makeable, courtesy of a spade trick eventually materialising. On the other hand, North might pass out 2§ doubled, and that looks to be doomed to at least one off - giving East / West (at best) the dreaded -200, which is virtually always a bad score at match-pointed pairs.