Today’s deal is from a match between teams from Spain and Bulgaria. South was Bulgarian expert Ivan Nanev.
The opening trump lead went to East’s ace and Nanev won the jack of trumps continuation with his king — a good start for the defense. A club was ruffed in dummy and declarer was at the crossroads. The play had started the same way at the other table, after a different auction, and the other declarer at this point led a low spade to his queen and ended up down one. Nanev had more information. East’s double of the artificial one diamond bid had shown diamonds, while West’s double of the natural one heart bid had been takeout for spades and clubs.
Nanev led a low diamond and East rose with his ace. A spade shift would have defeated the contract, but would have been a disaster had South held the 10 of spades instead of West. East continued with another diamond, ruffed by Nanev. Another club was ruffed with dummy’s last trump and another diamond was ruffed, taking away West’s last card in that suit. Nanev now completed his brilliant work by cashing the ace of clubs and exiting with the queen of clubs. West won with his king, but had to lead away from his king of spades. Making four! Well played.
