28th September 2016


A suit of J96 opposite K53 doesn't, at first glance, seem to offer much scope in the play, but consider the deal below from the Cumbria Swiss Pairs on September 25th.

Dealer South
S
1076
   
Game All
H
J962
   
    D J96
   
    C J105
   
S
54
    S
Q82
H
Q743
    H
K8
D
Q1082
    D
A74
C
AK2
    C
Q9764
    S
AKJ93
   
    H
A105
   
    D
K53
   
    C
83
   




South
West
North
East
1NT
Pass
Pass
Pass

South opened a strong notrump and everyone passed.  West led the diamond two, North displayed a fairly typical dummy, saying that he had full confidence in partner's ability to make this contract.

South is desperate to reach dummy to take the spade finesse in the hope of making five tricks in that suit.
If West has led from the ace and East plays the queen then an entry to dummy can be forced by winning the king and playing a diamond back.  If West has led from the queen, then South can unblock the king underneath the ace and then lead towards the jack.  East may foil that plan by ducking with Axx, so South must play the nine from dummy and hope that West has the ten.  Of course West may have led from 10xxx, so you may guess wrongly.  Also East could well find the club switch in which case you are in trouble.