5th February 2025


Dealer West
 S
 J95
    
N-S vul
 H
 K6
    
    D A76
    
    C 87642
    
S
    S
 K10862
H
 Q108743
     H
 J92
D
 QJ832
     D
 1094
C
 KJ
     C
 105
    S
 AQ743
    
    H
 A5
    
    D
 K5
    
    C
 AQ93
    


South
 West
 North
 East

2H Pass
 Pass
Double Pass 2NT
 3H
3S Pass 4S  Pass

A deal from the Chester Congress Pairs Qualifying.  2NT by North was lebensohl.

West led the seven of hearts.  Declarer, John Holland, won with the king and played the jack of spades covered by the king and ace, discovering the bad trump break.  John played a diamond to the ace and took the losing club finesse.  Now a second heart was led, John cashed the club ace and the diamond king.  John played the three of spades to the nine and ten.  East exited with a diamond  trumped in hand and John played a club which East ruffed.  This was the end position with East to lead.

Dealer West
 S
 5
    
N-S vul
 H
   
    D
   
    C 76
    
S
    S
 86
H
 Q10
     H
 9
D
 Q
     D
C
    C
    S
 Q7
    
    H
   
    D
   
    C
 3
    

East played a heart, John discarded a club from hand, ruffed in dummy and played a club.  John's Q7 of trumps over East's 86 made two tricks.

Thanks to John Holland for reporting this deal