Bangkok Brilliancy

By Brian Senior

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

If you think it matters not whether you play in 3NT or 4© by North/South on Board 3 in Round 4, think again.

3NT is ironclad with at least nine tricks for the taking but what about 4©? Looking at the complete deal one may well wonder how is it possible for any declarer to fail in that contract, despite the defensive diamond ruff.

Well, it happened in the match between Australia and China Hong Kong in the Youth series. The Australian pair in the Closed Room reached 4© by South after a Moscito relay sequence. L. H. Chin in the West seat led §7 which declarer took in dummy to play a trump to his king. On this trick Chin smoothly followed with his queen! This falsecard threw declarer completely off track. It does look as though he might play to establish the spades now, intending to use the diamonds as an entry to hand. However, convinced that hearts had to be four-one, and fearful of a bad spade break, declarer decided to attempt to ruff two clubs in hand. The opening lead had suggested that West would be the shorter in clubs, increasing the likelihood not only that the club ruffs would stand up, but also that there might be bad breaks elsewhere as West would then be short in two suits.

When West over-ruffed the third club, declarer nearly fell off his chair. Chin unerringly switched to ace and another diamond to give his partner a ruff, and the ace of spades was the setting trick.

At the half-way point in the championships, the China Hong Kong Youth team are 30 VPs ahead of second. If they continue to play like this, they will surely win the title in some comfort.