In an IMP match, the deal below was played in six diamonds at both the tables. The declarers received different leads however, but tackled the contract exceptionally well.
Table 1: Opening lead spade jack. Table 2: Opening lead diamond seven.
Before you read on, plan the play?
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No adverse bidding. Contract: Six diamond by south
Table 1: West led spade jack.
Analysis: Declarer counted: Three tricks in spades, one in hearts, six in diamonds, and two club ruffs for a total of twelve tricks.
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Play: Declarer won the first trick in dummy! and played a club. The defence shifted to a trump. Declarer won the trump switch in dummy, entered hand by spade ace and ruffed a club. Re-entering hand by a heart ruff, declarer ruffed one more club. He then cashed the spade queen to discard his last club. Declarer ruffed a heart next into his hand, drew trumps, and claimed the contract.
Table 2: West led diamond seven.
Analysis: With defenders reducing the club ruffs in dummy to just one, declarer counted: Three tricks in spades, one in hearts, six in diamonds, one club ruff, and one long heart for a total of twelve tricks.
Play: Declarer won the trump lead in dummy, cashed heart ace and ruffed a heart immediately! He then exited in a club. The defence played one more trump. Declarer won the trump again in dummy, ruffed one more heart, ruffed a club, ruffed the fourth heart high, drew trumps, and claimed the contract.
The complete hands are:
Discussion
There were many interesting points in the play of the hand:
At table 1, declarer won the opening lead in dummy! so as to preserve entry to hand for ruffing a club.
At table 2, he correctly played on hearts immediately to establish a long heart. If declarer had played a club at trick two, the contract would have failed.
Extremely well played at both the tables!
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