|
|
Dummy’s queen wins the trick
Dealer South, Love all
|
West
|
North
|
East
|
South
|
|
—
|
—
|
—
|
IC
|
|
IS
|
dble
|
Pass
|
2NT
|
|
Pass
|
6NT
|
End
|
North’s double is ‘negative’
(for take-out). Your rebid of 2NT suggests 18 or 19 points and this is
raised directly to a small slam. West gives nothing away with his heart
lead, won with the 10. How would you play the contract? You can count
ten top tricks, with an eleventh easily available in clubs. West’s
overcall makes him a strong favourite to hold the club king, so at Trick
2 you lead a club towards the queen. West cannot afford to rise with the
king and dummy’s queen wins the trick. What now? If West started with
fewer than four clubs, you can simply play a club to the ace, continuing
with a third round if the king does not fall. This would be poor play,
however. You can arrange a throw-in-play on West, however many clubs he
holds. You cash your winners in the red suits, reducing West to four
cards. If he keeps K-x in both black suits, you can throw him in with
either suit. Nor can he fool you by baring a king. If he throws two
clubs, or four spades, it would be clear to play first on that suit,
dropping the bare king.
— David Bird
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