Article Collection 7A48 by Richard Pavlicek
Article Collection 7A48 by Richard Pavlicek
U.S. Wins Big!
This deal from the final (rotated for convenience) caught my interest as Jeff Meckstroth became declarer in 4 
. North’s 2 NT bid may look peculiar, but in the “Meckwell” system it showed a limit heart raise, and South jumped directly to game.
Both Vul |  K J 7 6 3 2 K 5 3 J 8 Q J | |
| Q 5 10 6 K Q 10 7 3 2 A 5 3 | ![[W - E]](t.gif) | A 10 9 8 9 4 2 4 10 9 7 4 2 |
| Lead: K | 4 A Q J 8 7 A 9 6 5 K 8 6 |
| West 2 All Pass | North 2 NT | East Pass | South 1 4 |
Meckstroth won the A, cashed one top heart, and led a spade to the king — a routine misguess based on the inference of West’s bid. The Brazilian East won and returned a club to his partner’s ace; then came the Q and another diamond. Meckstroth handled this with ease, ruffing with the K, then ruffing a spade to drop the queen. After drawing trumps, he could reach dummy with a club to win the J and his game.
A stronger defense would have set the contract, and the key was patience. West should duck the first club lead (South clearly must have the king) forcing declarer to waste his club entry to dummy early, after which there is no path to 10 tricks. Try it and you will see the frustration for declarer.
The magnitude of the U.S. win is emphasized when you realize that if Brazil had gotten this deal right, they would “only” have lost by 206 IMPs. Sigh.
Key Defense Missed
4 x by South
| None Vul | 8 6 3 8 6 5 4 3 2 A Q 4 5 | |
| 4 K J 9 7 9 7 6 3 2 J 9 2 | | Q J 10 Q K J 10 A K Q 10 8 7 |
| Lead: 2 | A K 9 7 5 2 A 10 8 5 6 4 3 |
| West Dbl Pass | North 2 Pass | East 1 3 NT Dbl | South 1 4 All Pass |
West led his partner’s club suit, and East shifted to a trump at trick two, won by the king. Declarer next won the A and gave up a heart to West (East pitched a club); then the diamond shift was won by the ace. For the next four tricks, East was helpless as declarer crossruffed hearts and clubs. Finally, when a good heart was led from dummy, East ruffed and South pitched his losing diamond — making four spades doubled.
“Just lead a trump and we beat it two tricks!” East berated his partner. “Or at least lead the club jack so I can let you hold the lead for a diamond switch.”
“Sorry,” admitted West, “I just made a normal lead. I could have avoided this ugly mess if I just passed one spade. But I think you could have beaten it yourself.”
“There was nothing I could do,” argued East.
West was right. There were actually two ways for East to beat the contract. The simplest was a club return at trick two, which kills an entry to dummy and prevents declarer from establishing a long heart. But even after the trump shift, the defense could prevail with a spectacular gambit: East must ruff the second heart with his natural trump trick and lead his last trump.
Crossruff Elopement after the auction shown, and West led the K. Put yourself in the South seat and ask yourself how you would proceed.
4 by South
| A 6 4 3 J 7 4 2 8 2 5 4 2 | |
| K Q 10 8 7 Q 10 8 J 10 A 9 6 | | J 9 2 5 Q 9 6 5 3 K J 10 7 |
| Lead: K | 5 A K 9 6 3 A K 7 4 Q 8 3 |
| West 1 All Pass | North 2 | East Pass 2 | South 1 4 |
The actual declarer won the A and drew two rounds of trumps, revealing that West held the guarded queen. It was a routine matter to ruff two diamonds in dummy, but there was no way to avoid the loss of three clubs and a heart — down one. Would you have done better?
The key play is very subtle but would be normal technique for an expert. At trick two, declarer should ruff a spade in his hand. This alone accomplishes nothing, but it sets the stage for a successful crossruff and trump elopement.
After ruffing the spade, declarer cashes two trumps and two diamonds, then ruffs a diamond in dummy as West pitches a spade. Another spade is ruffed, and the last diamond is led, giving West an insoluble problem: He cannot afford to ruff (declarer would pitch a club from dummy); he cannot throw his last spade (else the 6 would be good), so he pitches a club. Declarer then is able to ruff the last spade in his hand as West has to follow suit. That’s 10 tricks if you’re still with me.
There is a fine line in deciding whether to ruff in the longer trump hand. It is generally wrong if declarer plans to establish his side suit; but on crossruff deals, it is usually right. The chance to elope with an extra trick is greater if your trumps are evenly divided.
Delicate Decisions in the Moysian trump fit. After the takeout double, South’s cue-bid created a forcing auction. This allowed plenty of room for exploration, and North’s final decision to remove 3 NT seems well-judged.
4 by South
| Both Vul | K J 10 J 10 9 5 A K 6 5 4 3 | |
| A 7 6 2 K 6 3 10 K Q 10 8 4 | | 5 4 Q 8 7 4 9 8 7 3 J 9 2 |
| Lead: K | Q 9 8 3 A 2 Q J 2 A 7 6 5 |
| West 1 Pass Pass Pass | North Dbl 2 3 4 | East Pass Pass Pass All Pass | South 2 2 3 NT |
Declarer took my K lead with the ace and immediately ruffed a club. Next came the K, which held, then a diamond to the queen and another club ruff. Declarer was quickly running out of resources. He now tried a second diamond to the jack, but I was able to ruff, and the contract was easily defeated.
Declarer’s downfall was his eagerness to win tricks. With all the delicacy in the bidding, it was a shame not to save some for the play. If the contract were notrump, it would be routine to use a holdup play in clubs, and the same technique would have worked in spades.
Duck the first club, and the contract is impregnable. In fact, West must shift immediately to hearts to stop an overtrick. If clubs are continued, declarer ruffs the second club and leads trumps to drive out the ace. The key is to retain the A as a high-card control so that trumps can be drawn. Ten tricks cannot be made if the first club is won with the ace.
Transfer Trauma
4 by South
| E-W Vul | 8 4 A K Q 10 9 4 3 10 9 7 6 | |
| K Q J 9 6 2 5 Q 10 9 K 3 2 | | 10 8 7 6 3 K 7 6 5 2 8 5 4 |
| Lead: K | A 7 5 3 J 4 2 A J 8 A Q J |
| West 2 All Pass | North 4 | East Pass | South 1 NT 4 |
North’s jump to 4 forced South to become declarer in 4 . Normally, the Texas transfer shows at least six cards, but North took exception with his powerful five-carder — good judgment in my view.
So far, so good, but the trauma arose in the play. Declarer won the spade lead and drew two rounds of trumps, discovering the 4-1 break. Next came a club finesse, losing to the king. West cashed the Q and continued spades, forcing dummy to ruff as East discarded his remaining clubs. Declarer was now history. If he drew trumps, he could never enjoy North’s long club; and if tried to unblock the clubs first, East would get a ruff. Too bad.
Careful play could have ensured success. Declarer should draw all of East’s trumps (South discarding a spade) then play the A and another club, taken by the king. West does best to continue leading spades, but declarer does not ruff the third spade, instead pitching a diamond from dummy. On the fourth spade, dummy ruffs, and declarer jettisons his blocking club on the same trick. The 10-9 are then clear to cash, and the A takes the last trick.
Major Two-Suiter. My partner passed this around (implying only two hearts) and I doubled. Perhaps I should have gambled on 4 NT, but my three-card heart length suggested defending — plus, South was known to be a wild bidder.
4 x by South
| None Vul | 8 6 4 A 7 10 7 3 Q 9 8 5 2 | |
| J 7 5 K 4 A K J 2 A 10 6 3 | | A 3 6 5 2 Q 9 8 6 4 K J 4 |
| Lead: K | K Q 10 9 2 Q J 10 9 8 3 5 7 |
| West 1 NT Pass | North Pass Pass | East 3 NT Dbl | South 4 All Pass |
My partner led the K and continued the suit, as South carefully ruffed with the eight. The 3 was then led to the seven (West might have played the king to block the extra entry, but this is a tough play that could backfire). Declarer next led a spade to the king as I ducked, then a heart back to dummy, felling the king. A second spade went to my blank ace.
It was obvious now to lead a club, and West took the ace. After a brief consideration, my partner realized I couldn’t have a singleton club (that would give me four spades, and I would have used Stayman) so he led his last spade which I ruffed. Whew! That was close.
Did you spot declarer’s subtle error? At trick two he should have discarded his club instead of ruffing. The rest of the play would go the same, but the difference is that I would have no way to get West on lead to get the spade ruff. (Declarer could also succeed by leading spades just once from dummy then ducking to my blank ace, but this has a double-dummy tinge.)
Curiously, the only defense that always beats 4 is a spade lead to the ace and a spade back. Now declarer can’t stop the ruff because he has no entry to his hand to draw the last trump.
Feasible Foresight? opening left something to be desired (a different hand?), but it seemed too good for a weak two-bid at favorable vulnerability — or maybe I counted extra for “forty jacks.” North, Hugh Ross, responded 1 NT (forcing, 6-14 HCP in our system), I rebid my spades, and the obvious game was reached.
4 by South
| E-W Vul | 7 4 3 A 9 7 3 K 8 A Q 7 5 | |
| A Q 8 5 K 10 8 4 10 9 7 K 9 | | — Q 6 5 Q 6 5 3 2 10 6 4 3 2 |
| Lead: 10 | K J 10 9 6 2 J 2 A J 4 J 8 |
| West Pass Pass | North 1 NT 4 | East Pass Pass All Pass | South 1 2 |
West’s diamond lead ran to my jack. The urgency was to attack clubs in case the K were offside (to build an early heart discard) so I led the J; king, ace. Everything felt cozy now, so I led a trump. Wouldn’t you? East’s show-out was a bit of a shock, and I then realized the predicament I was in. The contract could no longer be made legitimately.
West should win the first spade lead and return his last club, won in dummy. On the next spade, West must duck to break my communication, then he takes the third spade and leads a low heart. There is no way I can stop East from gaining the lead in hearts to play a third club, which promotes the 8 into the setting trick.
Should I have foreseen this? Had I led a heart (preferably low) at trick three, this would sever the enemy communication; then it would be clear sailing to drive and draw trumps. Perhaps it’s a better play, but there are other dangers such as a bad heart break.
The good news is that I got a reprieve. West decided to duck the first spade lead. (In fairness, he could not know his partner held the Q so the winning defense is not easy.) Whew! Now I was able to duck a heart before proceeding to draw trumps.
Wound & Rewound
5 xx by South
| Both Vul | J 9 8 4 2 K 7 2 6 4 K Q 4 | |
| K Q 10 7 5 9 5 4 3 10 7 5 2 — | | A 6 3 Q J 10 K 9 J 10 9 5 3 |
| Lead: K | — A 8 6 A Q J 8 3 A 8 7 6 2 |
| West Pass Pass Pass Pass All Pass | North 1 2 2 NT 5 | East Pass Pass Pass Pass Dbl | South 1 2 2 3 Rdbl |
Our opponents bid well to a good contract — at least with normal breaks — but my partner thought otherwise. As East, wouldn’t you like your chances to beat 5 ? This declarer took all doubles as personally insults so he routinely redoubled.
My K lead was ruffed. Declarer crossed to the K and took the successful diamond finesse. Now what? The proper play (forewarned of a bad trump break) is to cash the A. When the king drops, continue with the J and discard a heart from dummy. East can ruff, but declarer can get home on a crossruff. Try it.
The good news: Declarer erred by crossing to dummy with a trump to lead the second diamond. Now there is no legitimate way to succeed. The bad news: My partner failed to return a trump when he ruffed the third diamond. Minus 1000. Another day at the zoo.
Sigh. I guess it’s my fault, too. A closer study shows that an original heart lead upsets the crossruff timing and seals declarer’s fate. Would you have found it?
Bridge on Ice?This deal is from the bridge exhibition at the 1998 Winter Olympics (Lausanne, Switzerland). It occurred in the final match between Brazil and China, which ended in an exact tie.
6 by South
| None Vul | — A Q 9 6 A J 9 5 2 K 5 4 2 | |
| J 10 7 4 7 Q 10 7 6 Q 10 8 3 | | A Q 8 3 J 10 5 K 3 J 9 7 6 |
| Lead: 3 | K 9 6 5 2 K 8 4 3 2 8 4 A |
| West Pass Pass Pass Pass | North 2 3 4 6 | East Pass Pass Pass All Pass | South 1 2 4 4 |
Brazil reached the optimistic heart slam on the bidding shown, and West led a club. While there are no apparent losers, it is not obvious how 12 tricks will emerge. Declarer began with a crossruff: A; K pitching a diamond; diamond ruff; spade ruff; then a diamond. East was helpless. If he ruffed with the 10, declarer would overruff and continue the crossruff. East could win a trump trick; but if he returned his last trump, the defenders’ trumps would be gone and the fifth diamond would provide a 12th trick.
What a difference a lead makes. Some people scorn at a singleton trump lead, but the slam cannot be made if West leads the 7. I know I would have found it on my ice skates.
World’s Worst Suit contract with nine cold tricks in notrump.
4 by South
| E-W Vul | A K 7 3 2 A 8 4 3 A K 9 4 | |
| Q J 9 6 J 6 5 K Q 10 9 5 7 | | 10 8 K Q 10 9 7 J 7 6 J 8 2 |
| Lead: K | 5 4 3 2 A 8 4 2 Q 10 6 5 3 |
| West Pass All Pass | North 1 3 | East Pass Pass | South 1 4 |
As West I led the K, won by the ace. Declarer could not get home by cashing two trumps and running the clubs, so he started by ducking a heart. East won the Q and returned a diamond, ruffed by South. Now there was just no way to get home: If declarer cashed two trumps, he would lose control; and if he did not, East’s 10 would come into play on the fourth round of diamonds.
Declarer has a sticky problem, but ducking the heart seems to be a weak effort as it loses a tempo to the defense. I think it is best (based on the North-South cards only) to lead clubs first. If they split 2-2, you will still have a problem; but whenever they are 3-1, you are in great shape (barring the unlikely event that the person who ruffs is short in trumps).
Suppose declarer leads clubs immediately and I ruff the second or third round. Declarer now can simply cash the top spades and continue clubs with complete control, eventually ruffing a heart in dummy as his 10th trick. If instead I refuse to ruff, declarer has three club tricks in the bag and can revert to crossruff lines and succeed.
But I wonder: Does this make it right to bid a 5-4-3-2 suit?
Copyright © 2002 Richard Pavlicek. All rights reserved.