3rd August 2022


Dealer North
S
AQ5
   
Love All
H
K84
   
    D K53
   
    C AJ74
   
S
K643
    S

H
1092
    H
QJ765
D
976
    D
QJ1084
C
932
    C
Q105
    S
J109872
   
    H
A3
   
    D
A2
   
    C
K86
   


South
West
North
East


1N
2D
3S Pass 4C Pass
4D Pass
4NT Pass
5H Pass 6S All Pass



North South bid up to a small slam in spades after East had overcalled a natural two diamonds over North's one notrump opener.

West led the six of diamonds, won by declarer Phil Taylor in hand. He took the spade finesse to find that he seemingly had an inescapable trump loser.
With the club finesse likely to be wrong the contract looks doomed, but Phil was able to play for a rare ending.
He took another trump finesse, then three rounds of each red suit ruffing in hand.  Now king, ace and a third club left East on play in the position below.


Dealer North
S
A
   
Love All
H

   
    D
   
    C 4
   
S
K6
    S

H

    H
Q
D

    D
Q
C

    C

    S
J10
   
    H

   
    D

   
    C

   

Whichever red suit East plays, South trumps and West's trump trick disappears.
This ending is called a smother play.



Thanks to Nicholas Greer for reporting this deal