The Plan XXXIV by Tim Bourke

IBPA Column Service example 843

This was a seemingly routine board in a team match. At both tables, West led the ten of hearts. Each declarer won the first trick with ace of hearts.

Dealer North E/O Vul.

	A 6 2  J 6 2  J 8  A K 8 4 3
	K J 8 5 3  A 7 3  Q 7  Q 6 2

The Auction:

West	North	East	South
	1	Pass	1
Pass	2	Pass	4
Pass	Pass	Pass

Lead: 10

Looking at 11 tricks if both black suits were favourably-distributed. Also, it was obvious that, to have any chance of making ten tricks, the declarers needed spades 3-2 with the queen of trumps onside.

The alternative plan of cashing the ace and king of trumps before turning to clubs had significantly less chance of success. At trick two, the first declarer led a trump to dummy’s ace then led the two of trumps to the ten and his jack.

After this held, declarer drew East’s remaining trump with his king then played on clubs. When the clubs proved to be 4-1 he could no longer make his contract.

At the other table, declarer led a low club to dummy’s king at trick two and continued with a low trump to the jack. This declarer cashed the king of trumps and, instead of drawing the last trump, cashed the Q.

He continued with a club to dummy’s ace in order to ruff a club and establish the eight of clubs as a winner. All that remained was to draw the last trump with dummy’s ace and cash his tenth trick, the thirteenth club.

The Complete Hand.

	A 6 2  J 6 2  J 8  A K 8 4 3
9 7  10 9 8 4  A 10 9 6 4 2  9		Q 10 4  K Q 5  K 5 3  J 10 7 5
	K J 8 5 3  A 7 3  Q 7  Q 6 2

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