Heads I Win Tails You Lose

Germany picked up a useful swing in their match against Belgium on this deal from Round 20 of the Open series, making a contract that failed by two tricks at the other table.

Declarer read the cards well to arrive at a position where he would force one defender or the other to provide dummy with the game going trick(s).

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	ª 8 6 3 2 © J 8 3 ¨ Q 10 8 2 § A 9
ª 9 7 © K 5 4 ¨ J 3 § K Q 7 6 3 2		ª A K Q J 10 © Q 9 2 ¨ A 9 7 4 § 8
	ª 5 4 © A 10 7 6 ¨ K 6 5 § J 10 5 4

West	North	East	South
Gotard	Carcassone	Piekarek	Labaere
			Pass
Pass	Pass	1ª	Pass
2NT*	Pass	3NT	All Pass

2NT 5+§, not 3ª

North led the two of diamonds and South won with the king and returned the six, covered by the jack, queen and ace. Declarer played a club to the king and North won with the ace. She now exited passively with a spade, (a forgivable error) and declarer won and played three more rounds of the suit to arrive at this position:

	ª - © J 8 3 ¨ 10 8 § 9
ª - © K 5 4 ¨ - § Q 7 6		ª A © Q 9 2 ¨ 9 7 § -
	ª - © A 10 7 ¨ 5 § J 10

When declarer cashed the ace of spades South was in trouble. He discarded a heart, declarer and North parting with clubs. A heart to the ace was followed by a heart ducked to South’s ace. South exited with a diamond and North could win, but then had to give dummy the last two tricks.

If South discards a diamond, declarer plays a heart to the king, cashes the queen of clubs and exits with a club to force South to give dummy a heart trick.