First among Equals
On this deal from the first session of the round of 8 in the 1st European Winter Transnational Championships, every table reached 4 Spades.
Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
Nikos v Team Black
Open Room
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Pszczola | Gold | Buras |
| Pass | |||
| Pass | 2♥* | 2♠ | 3♥ |
| 4♥ | Pass | 4♠ |
South led the ♦5 and declarer won with the ♦A and played two rounds of spades, South winning and exiting with a diamond. Declarer won with the ♦Q, cashed dummy’s ♥A, ruffed a heart, went to dummy with a diamond, ruffed a heart and exited with a spade. South won and played the ♥J, but declarer ruffed and ran the ♣7, North winning with the ♣J and returning the ♣2. When declarer followed with the ♣9 he was home, a majestic +620.
Closed Room
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ward-Platt | Bertheau | P. Patreuha | Hult |
| Pass | |||
| Pass | Pass | 1♠ | Pass |
| 4♠ |
South led the ♥2 and declarer took dummy’s ace and played two rounds of spades, South winning, cashing the ♠K and exiting with a heart. Declarer ruffed, went to dummy with a diamond, ruffed a heart and cashed the ♦A to reach this position:
Declarer cashed the ♦Q, played a club to the ace and a club and was one down, -100.
It is hard to see but cashing the ♠9 is the winning move. I’ll leave you to work out the various possibilities, but declarer can always prevail.
As I half-expected, David Gold was the only declarer to record ten tricks.
