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Saving Frau Weber
by Mark Horton
There is nothing more satisfying for a defender than making sure partner is not left in a position where they might make an expensive mistake. (Yes, we know a few players who would be happy to do the opposite.)
On this deal from Round 7 of the Women’s qualifying competition Germany’s Ingrid Groman made certain her partner was not left with a chance to put her foot in it.
| Board 25. Dealer North. E/W Vul. |
| | ♠ A
♥ J 9 7
♦ Q J 10 6 4
♣ 10 6 4 3 | ♠ K Q 10 7 5 4
♥ K 10 5 3
♦ –
♣ Q 8 5 |
 | ♠ J 9 8 6 3
♥ 8 6 2
♦ 9 7 5 2
♣ 9 |
| | ♠ 2
♥ A Q 4
♦ A K 8 3
♣ A K J 7 2 |
| West | North | East | South
|
| Weber | | Groman
|
| | Pass | Pass | 1♣
|
| 2♠ | Dble | 3♠ | Dble
|
| Pass | 4NT | Pass | 5NT
|
| Pass | 6♦ | All Pass
|
It seemed natural for North to choose to play in diamonds, but played by South Six Clubs cannot be defeated.
East decided to lead the two of spades and declarer won with the ace, played a diamond to the ace, cashed the ace of clubs, came back to hand with a trump and played a second club. East discarded a spade, so declarer won with dummy’s king and exited with a club.
If West is allowed to win this trick, the contract cannot be defeated.
A spade exit allows declarer to throw a heart from hand, ruff high in dummy, draw trumps and claim, and a heart is in to the tenace.
East might have ruffed the second club and played back a heart, but no matter, she now carefully ruffed her partner’s queen of clubs and played a heart to ensure the defeat of the contract.
In the interests of honest reporting I must confess that on the real deal it was East who held the ten of diamonds and North the seven, but West was not to know that. If East leaves her partner on lead and she plays a heart the contract rolls home.
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