Waterloo Region Record

ANOTHER EXTRA CHANCE

Today’s deal is from a team competition. The auction and early play were the same at both tables. A heart to the king was followed by the ace of hearts and the eight of hearts, as a suit-preference signal for diamonds. West ruffed and duly shifted to a diamond, won in dummy with the ace. What next?

At the other table, the declarer cashed dummy’s king of spades and led a club to the queen. Had this won, he could have ruffed his low club in dummy and made his contract. It lost, however, so down one he went.

At this table, the declarer saw an extra chance and he took it. After winning the ace of diamonds, he led a low spade to his nine. He then led the queen of hearts. This cost nothing. Had West been able to ruff this, South would have over-ruffed in dummy and taken the club finesse. When West discarded a club, however, South discarded a low club from dummy. The ace of clubs was then followed by a club ruff. South crossed back to his hand with a diamond ruff and ruffed his remaining club in dummy. This left South with only high trumps and an easy claim. Nicely played!

There is a winning defense. We will leave it for interested readers to find.*

OBITUARIES / MARKETPLACE

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2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-29T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://waterloorecord.pressreader.com/article/281990381401284

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