june17

English 47 Virtual European Championship - part 1 Krzysztof Martens BOARD 17 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ AJ742 J109 J43 65 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ K8 AQ6 765 AQ1042 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Q6 K832 AQ82 987 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 10953 754 K109 KJ3 Contract 3NT. Lead ♠4 The main point - Do riot bother about small additional chances specifically when it may cost you an overtrick or an extra undertrick. The author of this problem recommends playing three rounds of hearts and, if they break 3-3 , finessing the queen of clubs, then finessing the king of diamonds. This provides an additional chance, he says, .if North holds a singleton jack of clubs. What rubbish! In the long ran, you will score more losses than profits by following such lines, not to mention overburdening the mind. Make the simple and obvious play - the double club finesse. Closed room - Contract 4 ♥, +450 for EW . You played for double club finesse: +460 = no swing. You were looking for a miraculous solution: -50 = -11 IMP. BOARD 18 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ A84 - J109754 A953 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ KQ6 AJ5 AKQ32 K6 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ J1053 Q32 86 QJ42 ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ 972 K1098764 - 1087 Contract 3NT. South opened 3♥. Lead ♦J. S discatded ♥4. The main point - Remember the bidding when you seek an i lu dummy. Order of play: 1. Win the diamond lead. 2-5. Play spades. North takes his ace on the third round and with a diamond. 6-7. After winning the diamond return, play the king of clubs mother club. 8. North wins the second club trick and plays a diamond for the third time. You pitch a club from the dummy. And now comes the key play. You play the five of hearts from your hand (North pitches a club) and the two of hearts from the dummy! South wins with the five of hearts and has to concede an entry to dummy, either in hearts or clubs. Funny, isn’t it - South gave away the contract away on the first trick when he discarded the four of hearts. Closed room - Contract 2 ♥ doubled ( NS ), +500 for EW . You found the extraordinary endplay: +420 = -2 IMP. You failed in finding this difficult play: -50 = -11 IMP.