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Declarer to the Fore.

In yesterday’s tribute to Ishmael Del’Monte, mention was made of his excellent declarer play. Here, then, courtesy of Barry Rigal, are two typical examples of Ishmael at work.

Double Squeeze

 

 

At the other table in this Teams match, North opened 2NT to show both minors and South jumped immediately to 6. Holding AK987, it was fairly easy for West to lead a trump and then when in again with K at trick 2, to lead a second trump (Declarer led Q). The declarer had to option but to ruff clubs but the bad club break meant the contract had to be one down.

After a constructive sequence following Ishmael’s 1 opener and 2 Michaels from East, East ended on lead to the same contract. A major suit lead would have given the time to conduct a successful cross-ruff. However, East chose to lead their singleton club to West’s K which was followed by a trump switch. This looks like it would be good enough to beat the slam…but not with Ishmael in charge!

 Ish won the trump switch in his North hand and cross-ruffed the next six tricks in spades and clubs, cashing the A in the process. Then he drew the last trump to produce this four-card ending:

A was played. East (who had ruffed in on an earlier club) was forced to discard a heart to preserve K. Q was then discarded and West was squeezed in hearts and clubs. A perfect double squeeze.

An unwise Double

 

This deal came from a past Gold Coast Congress and was written up by Omar Sharif. At the other table, North-South bid quietly, uninterrupted, to 3NT played by North. East led a heart. North gained the lead to play clubs though the bad club break meant the contract could not be made.

Meanwhile, after Ash overcalled a slightly off-shape 15-17 1NT, Ishmael used Stayman rather than a transfer only intending to play in spades if Ashley replied 2 to Stayman. However, with length rather than strength in clubs, West chose to double Stayman and Ashley’s redouble was an offer to play there, an offer Ish accepted.

Ish won the low trump lead cheaply in hand. His aim would be to win 5 trump tricks, a diamond, 2 hearts and A. He led a heart to the king, then advanced the Q, which West ducked. Next, Ish ducked a heart to West’s bare ace.

Back came a low club to Ish’s ace, and he next led a spade towards dummy’s ace. Correctly, West unblocked the king to avoid an immediate end-play with East’s Q winning the second round of the suit. This was the 6-card ending with Ish having won 5 of the first 7 tricks and needing three more:

 
The T Shirt given to Ish by sister Shalom. Maybe he was not "so humble" when it came to declarer play. Certainly, if so, with good cause. 

With East on lead, Ish would score his 3 trump tricks to come to 8 if East led a spade or a diamond. However East exited J. West had to ruff to prevent Ish making his Q. However, all West could now do was to cash A (the defence’s fourth trick) and exit a low diamond.

Ish could discard the Q winning K in hand and would then make the three remaining trumps in dummy to record an overtrick… + 1160 and a rather nice 15 imp gain.

Richard Solomon

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