July 2010

TIP OF THE MONTH

The Right Order

Harvey

Vul: Both
Dlr: E

 
KT85
T643
3
9854

 

A74
982
AKJ5
AJ6

Q63
AKJ
Q42
KQT3

  J92
Q75
T9876
72

 

South
West
North
East
 
Pass
Pass
1NT
Pass
6NT
Pass
Pass
Pass


Contract: 6NT.

Bidding: West knows that partner has from 15 to 17 points.
Together the pair must have the 32 points required for
a small slam but not enough for a grand slam. West has all
the information needed to place the contract in six notrump.


Play: Declarer has eleven top tricks. There are two possible
finesses to take for the twelfth trick. Declarer can play North for
the spade king and lead from dummy toward his queen. The other
alternative is to finesse in hearts by leading from dummy toward
the jack. As long as one of these two finesses works, declarer makes the contract provided
he takes the finesses in the right order.

Since declarer must always give up a spade whether the K is on side or off---
Declarer must take the spade finesse first.
If it works, the heart finesse is unnecessary. If the spade finesse fails, the heart finesse is still
an option.
If declarer takes the heart finesse first and it loses, it is too late to give up a trick in spades and the slam fails.