Most unusual

If you are able to find the winning defence in today’s a deal from an IMP pairs contest, you can rate yourself as world class. Are you ready?

 

 

 

 

West, your partner leads the D2. Take the East seat and plan your defence.

How the defence went:

East won with the Ace and returned the nine which West ruffed. West duly returned the two of hearts.

Dummy put up the Ace, cashed the CA to which he followed with the king and cashed the CQ on which he discarded a heart. Declarer exited in a spade next. East won with the ace and was end-played.

If he returns a club, dummy ruffs while declarer pitches another heart from hand.

The DQ is used for discarding the fourth heart.

Analysis

South seems to have opened on Q-T-x-x-x-x with some outside values. You can see very clearly three tricks for the defence. Where should the fourth come from? Obviously, from hearts.

Is there a defence to prevent the throw-in?

Solution

You bet, there is. At trick two, cash SA and play a diamond. Partner ruffs and shifts to a heart. Now, there is an inescapable heart loser in declarer’s hand.

The full hand was

 

Discussion

The point of the hand is that you should foresee the end play coming on you. Cashing the SA prevents declarer from thrusting you with the trump ace. Since partner has doubleton in trumps, cashing SA cannot lose.

Are you world class?

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Disclaimer : All opinions are entirely those of the author and are no reflection of the views of the BridgeFromHome Team.