Articles›Declarer Play›Interactive Problem 15
Interactive Problem 15
8 minutes
Fri, Mar 08, 2024Gavin WolpertDeclarer PlayVideo: Bridge Hand
Articles›Declarer Play›Interactive Problem 15
8 minutes
Fri, Mar 08, 2024Gavin WolpertDeclarer PlayVideo: Bridge Hand
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Problem #15: I was able to take the first 9 tricks and exit a spade at trick 10. East was still endplayed and forced to lead a low diamond at trick 12. Is there a downside to this line of play?
This could have been a great line of play as long as you could read the opponents' cards accurately.
A few additional observations: 1. Declarer has to keep a high club in dummy in case east plays the spade A back. Declarer can ruff it but will not be able to get back to dummy to enjoy the spade K; 2. If West 's spade 9 and dummy's spade 10 were switched, West needs to rise up with the 10 when the 7 is led. This is not an easy defensive play. -------- If he did (declarer should not cover with dummy's K) and gets back in spade, declarer's only chance is to play east for 6-5-2-0 and will need to ruff the spade (again playing low in dummy), cash the diamond A, and then play small and small to let east win with the K of Diamond. East now will be endplayed again. Very importantly though, Dummy should never discard a spade from the 4 card holding when the heart K is played, otherwise there is no endplay.
Another way on this hand, which is how I saw it initially...was to ruff out the hearts and spades up to the ♠K (using the ♥K to drop a spade). Then exit the hand with the ♠K and let east win their ace or if they duck the ace, drop a ♦ either way (ruffing finesse sort of), keeping a high trump in dummy. East has only diamonds and hearts left and now they give you that ruff and sluff or the diamond end play. Its clear that on this layout you do not need to do that given the ♠T, but it is an option as well because you can shorten spades with the ♥K. Note: This only works because west has 4 spades, if east is 5620, this will not work because west can break up the spade end play by ruffing the ♠A, though that is a difficult thing to do as defender, but quite elegant! Hard to know the full count. On this layout, its easiest to end play the spade immediately, but as the OP mentions if the T-9 are flipped, you can still make it by dropping a spade on the heart and playing for 4432 spades. Josh, would this make sense to protect against west having the Q or J? You would need to drop a spade on the ♥K before doing this though, is this sound?
If I am correctly interpreting what you are saying, the problem is you go down if west actually has the diamond king. You lost one spade on the first round, and a second when you led the king and discarded a diamond on it. Maybe east stretched due to distribution like 5620.
Sad to admit I made this by not noticing trumps were 3-0. So I "drew trumps" in 2 rounds and endplayed E.
This is so helpful. Thank you Gavin.
Nice problem! Got the spade exit wrong.
I see that some made 5C +1. How did they manage that?
The claim button doesnt check to see if the claim is correct. So if you claim all the tricks it will accept. Theres no way to make 6.
Good one.