august17

English 55 Virtual European Championship - part 1 Krzysztof Martens BOARD 21 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ J107 87 AJ95 Q862 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 53 KQ932 K84 AJ10 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ AQ94 AJ1065 72 43 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ K862 4 Q1063 K975 Contract: 4♥. Lead ♠J. The main point - Keep the dangerous defender off lead. You should play the four of spades from dummy. If South overtakes with spade king, to switch to diamonds, you will be able to finesse the nine of spades and pitch two clubs. Let’s assume that South does not overtake and North continues with the spade seven. Order of play: 2. The ace of spades. 3. A spade ruffed. You may figure out about spade distribution and play the right cards; queen or the nine. A spade trick would be useful if hearts were 3-0. 4. A heart to the dummy. 5. The last spade ruffed. 6. A heart to the dummy. 7. A club to the ten. North will be end-played when he wins the first round of clubs. You would go down only when South holds both missing club honours and the ace of diamonds is with North. Closed room – Contract 4 ♥ (East), lead ♠ 2: +420 for EW. You ducked the jack of spades – no swing. Your card play was different: -50 = -10 IMP. BOARD 22 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ QJ983 43 K3 KQ85 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 4 KJ10975 Q52 AJ10 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ K107 AQ8 A8764 43 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ A652 62 J109 9762 Contract: 4 ♥ . Lead ♠ Q. The main point - Once again, keep the dangerous defender off lead. You should ducked the queen of spades. Why? South is a dangerous opponent who can lead through your club tenace. Order of play: 2-3. North switches to a heart and you draw trumps in one more round. 4-5. You then play a club to the ten. North winds with the queen and plays a club back (a spade or a diamond would give you the contract directly). 6. Cash the ace of clubs and pitch a diamond. 7-8. Play the ace of diamonds and a diamond to the queen – this is an extra chance to find the king of diamonds doubleton with North, who will be end-played. If hearts are 3-1 with North holding three hearts then the defender will draw trumps after winning a trick with a club honour. The chance of a doubleton king of diamonds with North has vanished.. Closed room – Contract 3NT(East), lead ♠ 2: +600 for EW. You played accurately: +620 = +1 IMP. You failed: -100 = -12 IMP.