IMPs; Dealer South; All Vulnerables
8 4 J 7 6 Q J 10 7 3 7 5 3 |
||
J 10 9 6 Q 9 8 3 A 9 5 Q 8 |
7 5 3 2 10 5 2 8 2 K 10 9 4 |
|
A K Q A K 4 K 6 4 A J 6 2 |
The Auction:
West | North | East | South |
2 | |||
Pass | 2 | Pass | 2NT |
Pass | 3NT | Pass | Pass |
Pass |
Contract: 3NT
Lead: J
West led the J after this straightforward auction. Declarer counted six top tricks. He saw that unless there were a singleton or doubleton A, he would make only two tricks in the diamond suit; otherwise the defender with the A would take it only on the third round of the suit.
So, declarer had only eight certain tricks. The one chance for a ninth trick outside of diamonds was in clubs. Any approach would do if clubs proved to break 3-3. Declarer saw that there was an extra chance available in the suit if he ducked a club at trick two.
East took the trick with the 9 and returned a spade to declarer’s A. Now declarer cashed the A and was please to see the Q fall on his left.
Declarer’s next move was to play the K, which was allowed to hold. A diamond to the Q won and declarer now led dummy’s remaining club towards his jack-six.
East rose with the K and declarer’s J was then his ninth trick.