In this month’s hand the bidding was quick and so was the play to the first trick. West led the seven of spades and declarer played low quickly from dummy. East quickly played the King of spades and declarer quickly played the nine of spades. After winning the first trick, East stopped to consider his play to the next trick. Unfortunately for East any chance to beat 3NT had vanished with his quick play to the first trick. If he played the Ace of spades, he would just set up declarer’s Queen. East decided to get sneaky and return the Jack of spades hoping to fool declarer but it didn’t matter. Declarer won with the Queen and knocked out the Ace of diamonds. When West couldn’t return a spade declarer claimed his contract with an overtrick. To beat this month’s contract, East must stop and think on the first trick. He needs partner to have 2 spades and an entry or the contract is cold. To keep communications with partner, he has to let declarer win the first spade trick by playing the Jack of spades. Now declarer only has 7 tricks on top and has to give up a diamond trick to West. When West wins the Ace of diamonds he can return a spade and East will take 4 spade tricks to go with partner’s Ace of diamonds to defeat the contract.
|
654
A63
K72
AQ84