Hand of the Month
October 2008
A97
AKJ9
AK
KQ85
K843
J105
Q1062
74
8632
QJ10974
9
64
Q62
853
5
AJ10732
The contract is 7 clubs by South
Opening lead six of Diamonds
Well, beloved partner has put you up to seven clubs - now all you have to do is make it! You only have eleven tricks off the top, so the heart finesse has to be right, so you take it. Perhaps a miracle will happen and the hearts will be 3-3 - no such luck! what now? you are a trick short. Where is the 13th trick coming from? It looks like the only way to make it now is if the King of spades is on your left, because when you run trumps your left hand opponent will be unable to guard the spade King and keep the Queen of hearts - and so it works out - this is the position at trick eleven:-
A9
9
-
-
K8
Q
immaterial
-
-
Q6
-
-
2
So West is squeezed on the lead of the last club - he cannot discard the heart Q so he has to bare the King of Spades. Then it was a simple matter of making the last two spades for +1440. Well played Partner!!
So as to the next part of the question - how should you play in six clubs? I only have this 'second hand' but a well known County player at the congress drew trumps, threw a heart on the second diamond honour, then played AK and ruffed a heart. When that failed to find the queen he led a spade up to the Queen..... one down! very unlucky! it just goes to show how different the play is depending on the level of the contract.......
Anyway the two young internationals left without a word to score up with their team mates - such is bridge!!