|
Masterclass
How did you fare on our four problems?
Jean-Paul Meyer shows you how to approach each deal.
|
Dealer East - North/South Vul
|
| |
ª A K 6 2
© 10 8
¨ K Q
§ K Q 10 9 4
|
| |
ª Q 9 7 3
© K Q J 6 4
¨ 9 2
§ 7 2 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
1¨ |
1© |
| Pass |
4© |
All Pass |
|
West leads a diamond. East takes the ace and
returns the suit. How do you plan the play?
The secret here is to guard against a 4-2
trump break. After winning the second diamond, declarer should play
the ten of hearts. If that holds the king of clubs should come next.
That forces out the ace of clubs whilst the eight of hearts stands
guard against a third round of diamonds.
The full deal:
| |
ª 10 8 5
© 5 2
¨ J 8 7 6 5
§ J 6 3 |
ª Q 9 7 3
© K Q J 6 4
¨ 9 2
§ 7 2 |
 |
ª A K 6 2
© 10 8
¨ K Q
§ K Q 10 9 4 |
| |
ª J 4
© A 9 7 3
¨ A 10 4 3
§ A 8 5 |
If declarer makes the mistake of playing a
second trump, South wins and plays a diamond, forcing declarer to
ruff. Control has been lost and the contract will be defeated.
| Open Room |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
Pass |
1© |
1ª |
| 4© |
4ª |
All Pass |
|
West leads a small heart. What is your general
plan?
Obviously you must ruff this trick and play
a spade. If as expected East discards, you win with the ace, ruff a
heart and exit with a club. Say the defenders, who cannot attack
diamonds, carry on with clubs. You ruff the third round, ruff a
heart, and play two rounds of spades. I am imagining the full deal
looks like this:
| |
ª J 10 7 6 4
© -
¨ K 9 8 7
§ 9 8 5 3 |
ª Q 8 5
© K J 9 8 3
¨ Q 2
§ A 10 4 |
|
ª -
© A 10 7 4 2
¨ J 6 4 3
§ K Q J 2 |
| |
ª A K 9 3 2
© Q 6 5
¨ A 10 5
§ 7
6 |
At the point where you are about to exit with a
spade this will be the position:
| |
ª -
© -
¨ K 9 8 7
§ 9 |
ª Q
© K J
¨ Q 2
§ - |
|
ª -
© A
¨ J 6 4
§ K |
| |
ª 9 3
© -
¨ A 10 5
§ - |
West has to win with the queen of spades as
dummy discards a diamond. East has to release the ace of hearts and
when West exits with a heart East is squeezed in front of declarer's
last trump.
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
|
Pass |
1§ |
| 2© |
3NT! |
Pass |
4© |
| Pass |
6§ |
All Pass |
|
West leads the king of hearts.
After winning with the with the ace, draw
trumps, hopefully in not more than three rounds and play off the ace
and king of diamonds. If the queen falls on the second round you can
claim, but if West discards a heart on the second diamond declarer
will have to take three rounds of spades, finessing against West and
discarding a heart from hand and then play the jack of hearts
pitching a diamond. West will have to win and give a ruff and
discard.
The full deal:
| |
ª A K J
© J 3
¨ J 9 5 3
§ A 10 5 4 |
ª Q 9 2
© K Q 9 8 7 4
¨ 2
§ 6 3 2 |
|
ª 10 8 6 4 3
© 10 5 2
¨ Q 10 8 6
§ 9 |
| |
ª 7 5
© A 6
¨ A K 7 4
§ K Q J 8
7 | |