|
♠ 9 6 |
|
|
♥ J |
|
|
♦ A Q J 10 8 2 |
|
|
♣ Q 5 3 2 |
|
| ♠ 7 5 3 |
|
♠ Q 10 4 2 |
| ♥ A 6 4 |
|
♥ Q 10 7 5 3 2 |
| ♦ K 9 6 4 |
|
♦ 5 |
| ♣ 10 9 8 |
|
♣ 7 6 |
|
♠ A K J 8 |
|
|
♥ K 9 8 |
|
|
♦ 7 3 |
|
|
♣ A K J 4 |
|
You are in big trouble. Not only do you need four spade tricks, but you need a heart trick as well! Start by running the ♠9. If it holds, lead a spade to the jack and then the ♠A K, discarding a diamond, and cash two more clubs ending in dummy. This is the position:
|
♠ — |
|
|
♥ J |
|
|
♦ A Q |
|
|
♣ — |
|
| ♠ — |
|
♠ Q– |
| ♥ ? |
|
♥ ??? |
| ♦ K 9 |
|
♦ — |
| ♣ — |
|
♣ — |
|
♠ — |
|
|
♥ K 9 8 |
|
|
♦ — |
|
|
♣ — |
|
It seems you have reached the crossroads. If East has the♥ A, you can cash the ♦A and lead a heart. If West has the ♥A, you can lead a heart and force a diamond return.
In actuality, leading a heart is far better than cashing the ♦A. Unless East has specifically the ♥A Q 10, leading a heart guarantees you two of the last three tricks.
If West’s heart is the ace, he must win and lead a diamond. If West’s heart is the queen and East plays low, West wins and once again must lead a diamond. If East steps up with the ace and
leads a heart, you will finesse the 9.
Finally, if West’s heart is the 10 and East plays low, the jack wins and the ♦A is your 12th trick. If East covers with the ♥Q, win the king and drive out the 10, taking your 12th trick with the ♥8.
P.S. If the ♠9 is covered at trick five, win the jack, cross to the ♣Q using your ♣J, repeat the spade finesse, cash the ♠A K and enter dummy with the ♣5 to
bring about the desired ending.
If East has Q–10–x–x‑x in spades, you would have to decide who to play for the ♥A. If East has it, you can’t afford to cash a fourth spade.Instead, cash two clubs ending in dummy, then the ♦A, pitching a heart, and finally a heart to the king. If you think West has the ♥A, cash the fourth spade and reduce to the end position previously discussed.
Thanks to Scott Cardell, Pullman WA, for this one.
