4th May 2022


Dealer S EW Vul

S K853
H A6
D AKQ107
C K10
   


   
S Q104
H Q83
D J42
C AQJ4

South
West
North
East
1C 1H 1S Pass
1NT
Pass
4NT Pass
Pass
Pass




A deal from an online EBU duplicate.

After West has overcalled in hearts you rebid one notrump to show 12-14 points balanced.  Partner raises quantitatively to four notrump and you decline the invitation with a minimum.  West leads the nine of diamonds, form a plan.

Scroll down for solution

































Solution


It is likely that West has the spade ace as well as the heart king for her overcall.  You have five diamonds, four clubs and a heart trick.  You can easily develop a trick in spades to make eleven, but can you make twelve?

If you play a spade towards the king at trick two, then West cannot win the ace or else you make two spade tricks, so she will duck.
Now you hope that the original layout was as below.



Dealer South
S
K853
   
EW Vul
H
A6
   
    D AKQ107
   
    C K10
   
S
A2
    S
J976
H
KJ10742
    H
95
D
9865
    D
3
C
3
    C
987652
    S
Q104
   
    H
Q83
   
    D
J42
   
    C
AQJ4
   


Now you can run off all your minor suit winners to reach the following end position.  Then you can exit with a spade and West has to lead away from the heart king to give you your twelfth trick and probably a good score.  Unfortunately West's spades were AJ doubleton originally and twelve tricks were easy so you score just above average on the board.

Dealer South
S
8
   
EW Vul
H
A6
   
    D
   
    C
   
S
A
    S
9
H
KJ
    H
95
D

    D

C

    C

    S
Q
   
    H
Q8
   
    D

   
    C