This
deal is from the MCBA Swiss Teams held face to face
at Altrincham at the end of July.
North
was Raymond Semp, South Robert Ferrari, though they
had played on the same team many times in the past,
this was a new partnership.
West
led the four of diamonds to Robert's three notrump
contract, won by the ace. Now a club went to
the queen and a second diamond was won in hand,
another club was won by West who switched to a
spade. Robert won in dummy and cleared the
clubs. Another spade was won in dummy,
declarer could not afford to duck the spade as he
could not then get to the diamond queen and get back
to dummy. Now the six of clubs was won by
South with the ten and the queen of diamonds
cashed. Robert now exited with a diamond, West
won with the jack and had to lead a heart away from
the king to give South nine tricks.
Clearly
the defence could have beaten this contract at a
couple of points, but well played by Robert for a 12
imp gain.
A
secondary question from this deal. How do
East-West defeat three clubs played by North?
Scroll
down for solution.
To
beat three clubs East must lead a low heart.
North wins the ace cashes the diamond ace and tries
to ruff the third round of spades. West must
over ruff with the ace or king and play back the
nine of clubs to West's queen. West can now
play another heart to get two heart and three trump
tricks.
Thanks to Raymond Semp for reporting this deal |