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When North fearlessly competed, South had to bid at the 4-level. To gain a decent score, declarer must bring home the contract. Can you plan a way to achieve this goal . . . ?
Bidding
Dealer: South
E/W Game
East’s 3D raise was weak, and E/W did well not to bid on; 4D is doomed to fail, and no one in 4C made it. West led 7♣. Declarer suspects that all the missing aces are with the opener.
Declarer plays low from dummy and wins East’s J♣ with A♣. He has just failed!
The entire deal revolves around South’s ability to lead from his own hand four times (unless West just gives up, taking his aces at will). So, at trick 1, he must play 9♣ from dummy and win in hand. He leads, say, a diamond, and perhaps West wins and leads another. Declarer wins, and plays 10♣ to K♣. Next, declarer leads a spade; West plays low and dummy’s K♠ holds the trick. He can now play a club to his 8♣, and repeat the spade lead. Perhaps West wins, and continues with a third spade. Dummy wins perforce and, because of his foresight, he can enter his hand a fourth time via 6♣. Declarer can now capitalize on the good position of the aces, by leading a heart towards dummy’s king.
Did you foresee the requirement to jettison a high club at trick 1, and a second one later? If not, hopefully this deal will stimulate the right thinking for the next occasion . . .
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