Another deal from the
Cumbria Swiss Pairs on 25th September.
North's two clubs is game forcing, two notrump shows 12-14 (or 18-19) balanced. Four notrump was quantatitive and six notrump was a typical pairs effort, aiming for the maximum score. Normally with a combined 32 count, a running five card suit and all the aces, six notrump will be a huge favourite to make. Unfortunately on this deal the combined spade holding is not useful. The main hope in six notrump is to play a heart towards the queen, if the king is with West, then the heart jack must either fall in three or an opponent is squeezed holding the diamond length and the heart jack. With the heart king offside six notrump failed. The play in six diamonds is interesting. After winning the opening lead, cash the top trumps and both spades, then play clubs until the player with the long trumps ruffs, or if she doesn't, exit with the third trump leaving the opponent with the third trump to concede a ruff and discard or to play a heart. If East wins the third trump you need her to have the heart king, if West wins the third trump, then you will have to guess correctly when she leads a heart. |