Monday afternoon July 23, 2007
Board 18
East Deals N-S Vul | ♠ J 9 8 7 ♥ 6 ♦ A K 10 9 5 ♣ 8 4 3 | ||||||||||
♠ 10 4 3
♥ A K 4 ♦ Q 3 ♣ Q 10 9 7 5 |
| ♠ Q 6 5 2
♥ 9 8 5 3 ♦ J 6 4 ♣ K J | |||||||||
| ♠ A K ♥ Q J 10 7 2 ♦ 8 7 2 ♣ A 6 2 |
Lead: seven of clubs.
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1 ♥ | ||
| Pass | 1 ♠ | Pass | 1 NT |
| All pass |
| 1 NT by South |
| Down 1 — -100 |
This hand went down every time it was played; the defenders finding the right lead on the third trick. East takes two clubs. On the second trick West plays the 5, indicating "Please lead the lower of the two remaining suits, hearts and spades." A heart lead is won by the Ace; back comes a third club to force out the ace. Declarer still has to lose the jack of diamonds; back comes another heart and the defenders get four clubs, two hearts and a diamond for down 1.
Monday afternoon July 23, 2007
Board 16
West Deals E-W Vul | ♠ Q 8 7 6 3 ♥ A 8 6 ♦ 5 ♣ K 9 7 5 | ||||||||||
♠ —
♥ Q 10 7 5 ♦ A J 8 6 2 ♣ A 8 6 4 |
| ♠ A K 10
♥ 4 3 2 ♦ 10 4 ♣ Q J 10 3 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ J 9 5 4 2 ♥ K J 9 ♦ K Q 9 7 3 ♣ — |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♦ | 1 ♠ | 2 ♣ | 2 ♠ |
| 3 ♣ | 3 ♠ | 4 ♣ | 4 ♠ |
| 5 ♣ | 5 ♠ | Dbl | All pass |
| 5 ♠ x by North |
Lead: queen of clubs:
| Down 3 — -500 |
Not a pretty picture. At best EW can make two clubs; with the A-K-10 lead from East, North is badly hosed, eventually losing two spades, a heart, some number of clubs and diamonds; maybe making 2. Sometimes you should just SHUDDUP!