michaelslawrence.com
Card Combination
| Dlr: West | ♠ K J 4 2 | |
| Vul: None | ♥ Q 10 9 | |
| ♦ A 7 2 | ||
| ♣ 6 4 2 | ||
| ♠ 7 6 5 | ||
| ♥ A K 8 | ||
| ♦ K 9 5 | ||
| ♣ A K Q 3 |
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | Pass | 1♣ | Dbl |
| Pass | 2♠ | Pass | 3NT |
| All Pass |
South doubled East’s third-seat 1♣ bid and then bid 3NT over North’s invitational 2♠ bid. South did not consider a slam since North was marked with a maximum of about 10 points.
West started the ♣9. East overtook with the 10, and South won the trick.
It looks like South will need a spade trick, and he decided to try for one by force rather than to try an endplay. The play at trick two was the ♠5, 8 from West, jack from dummy, and the queen from East. So far, more or less predictable. East continued with the ♣J, won by South, as West followed suit. East is marked with only four clubs so there is no danger there.
At the next trick South continued spades by leading the 6 to West’s 10, the king, and East’s ace. Is this all bad news or what?
East continued with a club and declarer won, West showing out.
How do you measure South’s chances now?
He continued with his ♠7 and West discarded a heart. East won the ♠9, cashed his club, and returned the ♦Q.
Can you make 3NT now? How?
The answer is embarrassingly simple. Go to dummy and cash the ♠4, dropping East’s 3. Did you follow the spade spots or did you overlook something? No need to tell anyone. It’s between you and the ♠4.
| Dlr: West | ♠ K J 4 2 | |
| Vul: None | ♥ Q 10 9 | |
| ♦ A 7 2 | ||
| ♣ 6 4 2 | ||
| ♠ 10 8 | ♠ A Q 9 3 | |
| ♥ 6 5 4 3 2 | ♥ J 7 | |
| ♦ 8 6 4 3 | ♦ Q J 10 | |
| ♣ 9 5 | ♣ J 10 8 7 | |
| ♠ 7 6 5 | ||
| ♥ A K 8 | ||
| ♦ K 9 5 | ||
| ♣ A K Q 3 |
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