Slow Down and Think

Dlr:
South
Vul:
E-W
North
♠ J 10 6 5
10 4
6 5
♣ A 10 9 7 4
South
♠ A K Q 9
J 6
A K J 9 7 3
♣ 5
West North East South
1
1 Dbl 3 4♠
All Pass

The auction was the same at both tables in a team match. The play at both tables began in the same way: West cashed the A K and then shifted to the ♣K, taken by the ace. At the first table, declarer continued with a diamond to the ace, then led the nine of trumps to dummy’s 10 to play another diamond toward his hand, which seems to be recommended practice on deals of this type. East discarded a club and South won with the king. After ruffing a diamond with the jack of trumps he returned to hand with a trump to ruff a second diamond in dummy. East discarded a heart and declarer could now only make his two remaining trumps for a one-trick set.

At the other table, declarer also led a diamond to the ace at trick four. However, instead of playing a trump, declarer tried to cash the K. East ruffed and played a club. Declarer ruffed this with the nine of trumps then ruffed a diamond in dummy with the ♠10. Next, declarer returned to his hand via a low trump to the queen to ruff a diamond with the jack of trumps, thereby establishing two long diamond tricks. Now declarer drew the remaining defensive trumps with the ace and king then claimed the rest of the tricks. He made four trumps, three diamonds, two diamond ruffs and the ♣A for a total of 10 tricks. The full deal:

Dlr:
South
Vul:
E-W
North
♠ J 10 6 5
10 4
6 5
♣ A 10 9 7 4
West
♠ 3
A K 9 8 3
Q 10 8 2
♣ K Q 2
East
♠ 8 7 4 2
Q 7 5 2
4
♣ J 8 6 3
South
♠ A K Q 9
J 6
A K J 9 7 2
♣ 5

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