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Masterclass
How did you fare on our four problems? Jean-Paul
Meyer shows you how to approach each deal.
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Dealer East - North/South
Vul
|
| |
ª
A K 6 2
© 10 8
¨ K Q
§ K Q 10 9 4
|
| |
ª Q 9 7 3
© K Q J 6 4
¨ 9 2
§ 7 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1¨ |
1© |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
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West leads a diamond. East takes the ace
and returns the suit. How do you plan the play?
The secret here is to guard against a 4-2 trump break. After winning
the second diamond, declarer should play the ten of hearts. If
that holds the king of clubs should come next. That forces out
the ace of clubs whilst the eight of hearts stands guard against
a third round of diamonds.
The full deal:
| |
ª
10 8 5
© 5 2
¨ J 8 7 6 5
§ J 6 3 |
ª
Q 9 7 3
© K Q J 6 4
¨ 9 2
§ 7 2 |
 |
ª
A K 6 2
© 10 8
¨ K Q
§ K Q 10 9 4 |
| |
ª
J 4
© A 9 7 3
¨ A 10 4 3
§ A 8 5 |
If declarer makes the mistake of playing
a second trump, South wins and plays a diamond, forcing declarer
to ruff. Control has been lost and the contract will be defeated.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
| 4© |
4ª |
All Pass |
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West leads a small heart. What is your general
plan?
Obviously you must ruff this trick and play a spade. If as expected
East discards, you win with the ace, ruff a heart and exit with
a club. Say the defenders, who cannot attack diamonds, carry on
with clubs. You ruff the third round, ruff a heart, and play two
rounds of spades. I am imagining the full deal looks like this:
| |
ª
J 10 7 6 4
© -
¨ K 9 8 7
§ 9 8 5 3 |
ª
Q 8 5
© K J 9 8 3
¨ Q 2
§ A 10 4 |
|
ª
-
© A 10 7 4 2
¨ J 6 4 3
§ K Q J 2 |
| |
ª
A K 9 3 2
© Q 6 5
¨ A 10 5
§ 7 6 |
At the point where you are about to exit
with a spade this will be the position:
| |
ª
-
© -
¨ K 9 8 7
§ 9 |
ª
Q
© K J
¨ Q 2
§ - |
|
ª
-
© A
¨ J 6 4
§ K |
| |
ª
9 3
© -
¨ A 10 5
§ - |
West has to win with the queen of spades
as dummy discards a diamond. East has to release the ace of hearts
and when West exits with a heart East is squeezed in front of
declarer's last trump.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass |
1§ |
| 2© |
3NT! |
Pass |
4© |
| Pass |
6§ |
All Pass |
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West leads the king of hearts.
After winning with the with the ace, draw trumps, hopefully in
not more than three rounds and play off the ace and king of diamonds.
If the queen falls on the second round you can claim, but if West
discards a heart on the second diamond declarer will have to take
three rounds of spades, finessing against West and discarding
a heart from hand and then play the jack of hearts pitching a
diamond. West will have to win and give a ruff and discard.
The full deal:
| |
ª
A K J
© J 3
¨ J 9 5 3
§ A 10 5 4 |
ª
Q 9 2
© K Q 9 8 7
4
¨ 2
§ 6 3 2 |
|
ª
10 8 6 4 3
© 10 5 2
¨ Q 10 8 6
§ 9 |
| |
ª
7 5
© A 6
¨ A K 7 4
§ K Q J 8
7 |
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