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Hand played on |
March 27th 2008 |
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Board number |
16 (Red Section) |
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Dealer |
West |
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Vulnerability |
EW Vulnerable |
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Submitted by |
Alaric Cundy |
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North ♠97 ♥95 ♦AT74 ♣KT874 |
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West ♠KQ2 ♥A76 ♦K ♣AQ9532 |
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East ♠A43 ♥JT43 ♦QJ853 ♣J |
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North |
Bidding:
East |
South |
West |
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♠JT865 ♥KQ82 ♦962 ♣6 |
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No End
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3♣
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No No
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2NT 3NT
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Despite all the high card points here, it is very difficult for East / West to subside into a making contract. 3NT was the most popular spot, but it only succeeded twice.
At our table West chose a somewhat off-beat 2NT opener - showing 19 - 20 HCPs on their style. 3♣ was 5-card Stayman, and 3NT showed a lack of both four and five-card majors.
Unsuspectingly, North made the natural lead of the fourth best club, won in Dummy. Declarer played a diamond to the King and Ace, and North switched to a spade. Declarer tested the clubs and then surveyed the scene: two clubs, two diamonds, three spades, and a heart on top. That is of course one short, and Declarer banked all on making a long heart trick, but when that suit fell badly, the Defenders took three hearts, and then end-played Dummy so that North also made the ten of diamonds, for one off.
Double-Dummy, Declarer can fare better. After the same start - club won by the Jack, diamond won with the Ace, spade won by Declarer, Declarer exits with a small heart to the ten, taken by South. South will continue spades, won in hand by Declarer, who tries the Ace of hearts. Now Declarer crosses to Dummy courtesy of the Ace of Spades, cashes the two top diamonds and then endplays North by playing a fourth diamond. North can take the King of clubs, but he cannot prevent Declarer from scoring with the Queen of clubs. It's easy when you can see all the cards!