Bridge: In firm control

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The deal below came up in a match-point tournament where my partner R.S. Narayanan, exhibited his class as a declarer.

Contract: 6 S by south. West leads the D K. Plan the play.

Bidding explanation: South's 4NT was quantitative, asking north to bid 6NT if he has 18+ points. Since I offered a ruff or two, I jumped to 6

S hoping my partner had good spades for inviting me.

Analysis: The opening lead has created losers in diamonds. If spades are 3-3 or the jack falls in two rounds, i.e. about 52 per cent of time, you have thirteen tricks. However, the important point is that there are only 30 points between the NS hands and it is unlikely slam will be reached at the other tables. Even those who manage to reach slam are likely to contract for 6NT and they will beat you if they can run the spades without loss.

So, it is better to assume that the jack will not fall in three rounds but try and find a play to ensure the contract.

How others played: Most declarers were in 3NT and they finished with eleven tricks. Some were in 4

S only. They won the opening lead with the ace and ruffed a diamond immediately. Entering hand by

H J, another diamond ruff was taken. Declarer next played the heart ace. West ruffed and cashed a diamond to defeat the contract. A few who bid 6NT failed by a trick when west led the

D K. The complete hands are:

How my partner played: Narayanan won the D A and played the S 10 from hand at trick two! West won and played back another diamond. Declarer ruffed the diamond continuation in dummy, entered the hand through H J, drew trumps, and claimed.

Discussion: My partner correctly evaluated that he was in a good contract and played it like a champion to ensure twelve tricks. By retaining a spade in dummy to deal with the diamond continuation, declarer kept firm control of the hand. If he had tried for all thirteen tricks, declarer would have gone three down and we would have earned a bottom.

You may say I was lucky to find partner with such good spades. But I knew my partner would convert it to 6NT if his spades were poor. Tell me honestly, did it ever strike you to duck a spade at trick two!

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