Wednesday morning October 10, 2007
Board 4
East Deals Both Vul | ♠ K J 7 6 ♥ 5 2 ♦ K Q 5 3 ♣ K 9 7 | ||||||||||
♠ A 8 5
♥ K Q J 9 6 ♦ 2 ♣ A Q 6 5 |
| ♠ Q 3
♥ A 8 7 4 3 ♦ A J 8 4 ♣ J 4 | |||||||||
| ♠ 10 9 4 2 ♥ 10 ♦ 10 9 7 6 ♣ 10 8 3 2 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| 1 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♥ | Pass |
| 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 ♦ | Pass |
| 4 ♠ | Pass | 6 ♥ | All pass |
| 6 ♥ by West |
Lead: king of diamonds
| Made 6 — +1430 |
This hand wasn't bid today, but could have been. North doesn't want to lead, instead preferring to have West come to him. The king forces out the ace. Two trumps clear the kiddies, then the club jack is finessed, losing. Again North doesn't want to lead; while it would be tempting to lead the queen of diamonds, lead a club back, it's safer. It doesn't matter, West crossruffs the hand out, dropping East's extra spade on the high club.
Wednesday morning October 10, 2007
Board 6
East Deals E-W Vul | ♠ Q J 4 ♥ A 10 6 4 ♦ J 10 ♣ A K Q J | ||||||||||
♠ 8 5
♥ Q 8 5 3 2 ♦ A 6 ♣ 9 8 5 2 |
| ♠ K 3 2
♥ K 9 7 ♦ Q 8 2 ♣ 10 6 4 3 | |||||||||
| ♠ A 10 9 7 6 ♥ J ♦ K 9 7 5 4 3 ♣ 7 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | ||
| Pass | 1 NT | Pass | 2 ♣ |
| Pass | 2 ♥ | Pass | 3 ♦ |
| Pass | 3 NT | All pass |
| 3 NT by North |
Lead: 10 of clubs.
| Made 6 — +490 |
West looks at partner's lead of the ten, checks the board then his hand, and assumes that since they play "coded 9s and 10s" that partner must have 2 higher clubs in his hand. The lead of a nine or ten in NT indicates top of nothing or 2 higher. Declarer immediately drops the queen of spades and snares East's king. Declarer should pause seeing ten tricks in hand and ponder how to get more. If he returns to hand with the jack of spades, then leads the jack of diamonds, East again would cover with queen-king-ace. No lead prevents declarer from sweeping twelve tricks. Back in with a club, North clears the diamond ten, runs the clubs and the ace of hearts, then exits to the board's good ten of spades and good diamonds. Making six and a top.
Wednesday morning October 10, 2007
Board 24
West Deals None Vul | ♠ Q J 10 7 ♥ A 9 8 3 2 ♦ J 4 3 ♣ K | ||||||||||
♠ K 5 4 3
♥ 7 6 ♦ A Q 6 5 ♣ Q J 8 |
| ♠ A 8
♥ K ♦ K 9 8 ♣ A 10 9 7 5 3 2 | |||||||||
| ♠ 9 6 2 ♥ Q J 10 5 4 ♦ 10 7 2 ♣ 6 4 |
| West | North | East | South |
| 1 ♦ | Pass | 3 ♣ | Pass |
| 4 ♣ | Pass | 4 NT | Pass |
| 5 ♦ | Pass | 6 ♣ | All pass |
| 6 ♣ by East |
Lead: queen of hearts.
| Made 6 — +920 |
If North doesn't step up to the ace, East runs the table. It never hurts to get lucky, either. The heart continuation is ruffed, then a diamond to the board and the queen of clubs is led, capturing the king and the rest is history.