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ª K 8
© 10 9
¨ Q 7 5
§ A Q 10
4 3 2
ª A 9 6 4
3
ª Q 10 2
© Q 8 6
© K J 7 5
4
¨ K 9 8
¨ J 10 6
3
§ 6 5
§ 9
ª J 7 5
© A 3 2
¨ A 4 2
§ K J 8 7
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This hand
is of interest for the defence.
The bidding was short and sweet – 1NT – 3NT and West
led a spade without much thought so presumably had five.
Declarer was tempted to play
ªK immediately to secure the ninth trick,
especially against the good pair who were defending.
But the defence is far from obvious and he ducked in
dummy. East won
ªQ and thought it through.
Even seeing all four hands it may not be obvious what
defence will be effective.
Returning a spade or diamond will set up a ninth
trick so the only effective switch is to a heart.
But the defence need to take two heart tricks before
establishing a diamond trick.
So the second heart trick needs to be won by the
defender not holding
¨K.
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As the cards lie that means leading a low heart
to West’s
©Q and then back to
©J.
Declarer cannot win as East has two winning hearts to cash and West
has a link card. Then
East can play a diamond to establish the fifth trick for the
defence.
If East had held
¨K with the same hearts as above he would need to play
©J first then
©5 to his partner’s
©Q for a diamond switch.
Only if East had
©K Q J x x and
¨K could declarer succeed against best defence.
But not many pairs can defend like that.
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