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Dealer: S |
North ♠ K Q 10 8 7 ♥ Q ♦ 9 2 ♣ K J 9 6 4 |
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| South ♠ A J 9 6 5 ♥ A 10 9 ♦ A J ♣ Q 10 3 |
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| Lead: ♦3 Bidding:
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By Mike Lawrence
When your normal line is doomed to fail, you have to ask yourself if there is any layout of the cards that will let you succeed. It may take a bit of imagination to visualize the needed lie of the cards, but if making your contract depends on such a holding to exist, you have to think about what it might be. Then, having done that, you have to decide if it is worthwhile trying for it. You don’t want to go down an extra trick if the odds are a thousand to one against your wish coming true.
North South used a brisk route to six spades. It would have been cold against any lead but a diamond.
When West found the killing diamond lead, South no longer had time to set up the clubs. Fortunately, South had one last chance. You might like to think about what that chance is before continuing. I will give you a modest hint. Given the diamond lead, South has a twenty-five percent chance of making six spades.
| Dealer: S Vul: All |
North ♠ K Q 10 8 7 ♥ Q ♦ 9 2 ♣ K J 9 6 4 |
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| West ♠ 4 ♥ J 7 6 5 4 2 ♦ K 8 6 3 ♣ A 5 |
East ♠ 3 2 ♥ K 8 3 ♦ Q 10 7 5 4 ♣ 8 7 2 |
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| South ♠ A J 9 6 5 ♥ A 10 9 ♦ A J ♣ Q 10 3 |
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WEST’S LEAD
West had a very difficult choice. but finally chose to lead a diamond away from his king.
This was not totally a stab in the dark. West knew that North-South had tricks in clubs which could be used for discards.
When your opponents have shown they have a side suit which can be used for discards, it is often right to lead away from a king or queen hoping to set up a trick in time to use it. This is true even against a slam. While leading aces is often best, here it is a very bad choice since you expect there will be long club suit in dummy. Leading the ace of clubs would just cede timing to declarer. West’s choice of a diamond was well thought out and it gave declarer fits.
THE PLAY
After winning the diamond lead and drawing two rounds of trump, South led the queen of hearts from dummy. East was obliged to cover and South won the ace. Next came the ten of hearts. This time it was West’s turn to cover in the hope that East had the nine of hearts. But not so. South ruffed and returned to his hand with a trump. The heart nine was good for a diamond discard so South was able to concede a club loser. Making six spades. Even though South’s play risked going down an extra trick, it was very reasonable to try for it.
THE ODDS
Making six spades would give South 1430 points. Going down an extra trick would cost South one hundred points. Given that the heart suit would let South make slam one time in four, it was right for South to try to make six spades. In four tries, South will make 1430 once and on the three losing tries, South will lose a total of 300 points. The net is positive so should be attempted.
“I would never have bid the slam without the nine of hearts,” wagged South.