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Odd Numbers
Hands up everyone who knows how to score 920? Too easy you say? Not necessarily, if I tell you that you are allowed to bid and make a minor suit slam, you are not vulnerable, and it is not from 1 of a major redoubled (+2 if non-vulnerable +1 if vulnerable). The magic number comes from playing 4NT< and making - I and how often does that happen. Step forward the lucky - I and guilty - parties. We'll tell you the countries but not the names of the defenders (our charity extends that far). It was Belarus who were the recipients, Turkey the donors.
| Board: 14. Dealer: East. None vul. |
| | ♠ -
♥ K 10 6
♦ Q J 10 9 6 4
♣ 10 8 7 3 |
♠ A 4 3
♥ A J 8 3 2
♦ K 5 3 |  |
♠ Q J 9 8 5
♥ 9 7
♦ A 8 7 | | | ♠ K 10 7 6 2
♥ Q 5 4
♦ 2
♣ Q 9 6 4 |
The bulletin expounded on the play in 4♠, but did not look too carefully at the play in no-trumps. Curiously, against an inspired declarer the defence would really have to be on their toes to stop ten tricks in no-trumps.
Imagine as West that you remove yourself from 4♠* to 4NT on the lead of the diamond queen. You pass the ♠Q and find the expected bad news, then lead a heart to the jack. North wins and clears the diamonds, you lead a heart to your ace, and endplay South with the third heart.
| | ♠ -
♥ -
♦ 10 9 6 4
♣ 10 8 7 |
♠ A 4
♥ 8 3
♦ 3 | |
♠ J 9 8
♥ -
♦ 8 | | | ♠ K 10 7 6
♥ -
♦ -
♣ Q 9 6 |
No matter what South does you have ten tricks. Of course an astute South would pitch the ♥Q on the second diamond to avoid this position - and that would be nice defence would it not?
Let's go back to what really happened at the table. Declarer won the diamond lead in dummy and ran the ♥9 to the 10. North cleared the diamonds, and South carelessly pitched a low heart. Declarer won the diamond in hand and exited with a low heart, leaving North with the obligation to crocodile his partner's ♥Q…but wait a second! Did partner have the bare ♥A or the bare ♥Q? Unable to bear the ridicule if he had reduced his three heart winners to two, North played low, and South had to win the ♥Q. Ten tricks made, and the magic number recorded.
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