Anton Maas collected 114/118 matchpoints on this deal from
the second session of the pairs final when he found an outstanding
technical play that was missed by almost every other declarer.
Board 19. Dealer South. EW
Game |
|
 |
A KQ 10 9 6 |
|
 |
A 9 4 |
 |
6 5 4 |
 |
Q |
 |
4 3 |
 |
 |
7 5 |
 |
K 8 7 6 3 |
 |
Q J |
 |
J 7 2 |
 |
K 10 9 3 |
 |
8 5 3 |
 |
K J 10 6 2 |
|
 |
J 8 2 |
|
 |
10 5 2 |
 |
A Q 8 |
 |
A 9 7 4 |
West |
|
North |
|
East |
|
South |
|
|
Maas |
|
|
|
Vriend |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pass |
Pass |
|
1 |
|
Pass |
|
2 |
Pass |
|
4 |
|
All Pass |
|
|
|
2 by Vriend was Drury. East led the 5 and dummy's
eight held the trick. Anton now made a brilliant and far
sighted play when he continued with a low club to the queen!
East won and played another spade, taken by dummy's jack. Now Anton
ruffed a club and took the winning diamond finesse. Then he cashed the
A, discarding his losing diamond, and ruffed a club. His next move
was to cash the A. Only then did he cross to the A and ruff a
diamond. He exited with a heart and the defenders had no answer. If
East won the trick he would have to concede a ruff and discard and
West could only overtake his partner's queen at the cost of setting up
dummy's ten of hearts. A perfect example of elimination play. |