Challenging Deal (Le Bridgeur Magazine No. 922)
2017 World Vice-Champion Jérôme Rombaut writes a column in the French magazine “Le Bridgeur” every two months.
In the article below, published in issue 922 of the magazine (May / June 2019), Jérôme gives us a new board analysis from 2019 Memphis NABC.
Unless you are very imaginative or naturally scatterbrained, this deal will make life difficult for you. Whatever happens, savour it!
You defend against 6♠ after South has shown five spades and nearly all the remaining points.
 10 8 2 K Q 9 8 7 A A K 5 4 |
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 |
Q 9 3 10 6 4 2 Q 10 7 3 2 7 |
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Your partner leads the ♣J. The declarer takes it with the ♣Q and returns the ♠A.
Which card do you play?
To find the right card to play, imagine yourself in the declarer’s shoes with ♠AK764 ♥AJ ♦K654 ♣Q8.
His main concern is not to lose two trumps. If you follow with the ♠3 or ♠9, he will play the King and claim 12 tricks when trumps are 3-2.
But if you follow with the Queen with no hesitation, the declarer will assume that trumps split J953 on one hand and bare Queen on the other (bare Queen-Jack wouldn’t make any difference).
In that case, to make his contract, he will be obliged to play a low spade to catch the Jack-fourth.
And that is when the sky falls on his head.
Your partner will gain the lead with his Jack-second and give you your club ruff.
That is defensive play worthy of a world champion!
Unfortunately, not everyone is Zia Mahmood and no-one found it at the table.
The full deal was:
| 10 8 2 K Q 9 8 7 A A K 5 4 |
| J 5 5 3 J 9 8 J 10 9 6 3 2 |
|
Q 9 3 10 6 4 2 Q 10 7 3 2 7 |
| A K 7 6 4 A J K 6 5 4 Q 8 |
