January 2011

Count Your Tricks Before Drawing Trump

Contract: 4 by North
Opening Lead:
Q

 
A7642
AT64
9
A87
 

T9
8753
KT74
643

KQ853
K
Q62
QJT5

  J
QJ92
AJ853
K92
 
South
West
North
East
1
Pass
1
Pass
2
Pass
4
Pass
 Pass
 

Bidding: A straightforward sequence; after North's rebid of hearts, South realizes he wants to be in a heart game, and South bids it directly.

Play: We win the Q with the K and we play the Q to draw trump. Do we play the A and drop the singleton K. Yeah, like we really knew the K was singleton.

Well, whether you take the finesse or not, you are down.

Proper Play: North should realize that there is no way for him to make ten tricks unless he makes his tramp individually, so he should win the opening club lead, cash the other club and crossruff the rest of the hand. He must cash his 2nd club first, since West will be able to discard his clubs during the crossruff.