A
deal from the Berks and Bucks Swiss Pairs last
month.
East
opened two hearts showing five hearts and four or
more in a minor suit with a maximum of 10 high card
points.
John
Holland bid two notrump as South and was raised to
three notrump by Jackie Pye.
West
led the jack of hearts, ducked by East.
John
could now duck the heart to ensure nine tricks,
which he undoubtedly would do at teams, but at pairs
he decided to be more ambitious. He won the
heart and played the ten of diamonds. West
should take this and continue hearts, which would
hold South to nine tricks (East gets squeezed out of
a heart winner). But West ducked, so when the
ten held John switched his attention to
spades. East won the jack of spades, which was
an error as John now had enough entries to make four
clubs, three diamonds, two hearts and two spades for
an equal top. If East had ducked the first
spade John would need to revert to diamonds, ending
up with ten tricks.
Thanks
to John Holland for reporting this deal
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