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NOT MUCH TO DO…SO DO IT RIGHT!

Most of the hands we discuss in these features are game contracts, needing to be made or defeated. Yet, whether you are playing Teams or Pairs, those part-scores are just as important. Here is one of those part-score hands which should have been defeated but was not.

On the following deal, East had only one thing to do…nothing in the bidding and just one thing in the defence. So, let’s see what happened.

 

2 was a standard weak 2, 6-10 high card points and a 6-card suit. North’s 3 bid seemed normal though was actually not right on the board as both 3 and 3should be defeated. Against 3, West led the A and then K with you East discouraging a third round of the suit.

West then switched to the K followed by Q…with you, East, following low to both rounds. Declarer made the rest of the tricks. What did you do wrong?

It all seemed too easy, so far. 4 winners and if West had either major suit ace, then the contract was always going down. However, did they? Your partner has already shown up with the top two clubs, almost certainly the Q  and five points in diamonds, more than enough for an overcall. Meanwhile, South has shown nothing so far and should have some high cards in the majors.

East missed a golden no cost play…and the only way to beat the contract other than a bizarre under-lead of the top clubs:

 

 

East should overtake the Q with their A and see what happens. There is absolutely no cost were South to ruff or even contribute J. However, when South follows with a low diamond, the only diamond East cannot see is the jack. Thus, East can still exit a low diamond at no cost…and as you can see, a diamond ruff provides the defence with their fifth and contract-setting trick.

So, be careful even when you follow suit with seeming comfort. Your casual play can be a crucial error. Don’t let another part-score make unnecessarily.

 

may be right.

Richard Solomon

 

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