Elimination Play

 

As the name suggests, an Elimination Play involves removing the victim's safe exit cards so that he has no choice but to surrender a trick later in the play.

 

Related Play Problems           Play Problem 53

                                                 Play Problem 58

                                                 Play Problem 81

                                                 Play Problem 136

                                                 Play Problem 138

                                                 Play Problem 141

 

Related Extracts from Past Wednesday Games

 

 

27	♠ K64 ♥ KQ5 ♦ 972 ♣ K863	From 14th March, 2007
♠ T8752 ♥ AT ♦ AT ♣ A952	North West             East           South	♠ A ♥ J98742 ♦ KQ3 ♣ QT4	Dlr     South Vul     None
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ QJ93 ♥ 63 ♦ J8654 ♣ J7	South   West    North   East  Pass    1♠        Pass    2♥ Pass    2NT     Pass    3♥ Pass    4♥        All Pass

 

Suppose that South bizarrely starts out with the Q♠, and further suppose that you have been told your very life depends upon your making 11 tricks.  Then perhaps you might try this exotic (but contract-risking) line of play:

            Win the Spade opening lead with the Ace

            Cross to the A♥

            Ruff a Spade

            Back to the A♦

            Ruff a Spade

            Cash the K♦

            Ruff the good Q♦!

            Ruff another Spade

            Exit a Heart

North can cash her second Heart, but has been stripped of everything but Clubs.  On the Club return, you must guess correctly to hop with the Queen.  Now, you cross to the A♣ to cash the established Spade, and you will live to fight another day.

 

 

17	♠ 9873 ♥ 7 ♦ J98732 ♣ 43	From 28th March, 2007
♠ AK4 ♥ KJ64 ♦ 6 ♣ QT875	North West             East           South	♠ J6 ♥ AQT932 ♦ AT ♣ A62	Dlr     North    Vul     None
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ QT52 ♥ 85 ♦ KQ54 ♣ KJ9	West    North   East     South             Pass    1♥        Dbl 4♦        Pass    5♣       Pass 6♥        Pass    Pass    Pass

 

Let’s say that South leads a Spade.  How would you play 6♥?  It’s pretty simple, really, just draw the trumps, eliminate the Spades and Diamonds, cash the A♣ and lead towards Dummy’s Clubs.  Now, it really doesn’t matter if you guess to play the Ten or the Queen … if North started with KJx you are down, if she wins with a doubleton honor, she’ll be end-played.  Of course, the bidding tells us that the K♣ is probably with South, but that’s no reason not to eliminate the side-suits as a precaution against a bizarre opponent.

 

 

29	♠ 42 ♥ KT9872 ♦ A4 ♣ K42	From 25th April, 2007
♠ K95 ♥ AJ3 ♦ KT85 ♣ Q75	North West             East           South	♠ AQJT76 ♥ 6 ♦ Q62 ♣ AT9	Dlr     North Vul     Both
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ 83 ♥ Q54 ♦ J973 ♣ J863	West    North   East     South             1♥        1♠        Pass 2♥        Pass    4♠        Pass Pass    Pass

 

4♠ is the likely final contract and South no doubt leads a Heart, won on the board.  Here is a not completely far-fetched line of play for 12 tricks:

            Opening Heart lead, won on the board

            Heart ruffed high

            Cross to the K♠

            Heart ruffed high

            Cross to the 9♠

            Low Diamond to the Queen

            Diamond ducked to North’s Ace

Now, North is end-played!  She must concede a ruff and sluff, or else she must give up a Club trick, and either will hand Declarer his 12^th trick.  Yes, North was asleep at the switch.  When the low Diamond was led from the board she had to rise majestically with the Ace and exit a Diamond.  This gives Declarer three Diamond tricks, but that is not much help, the defense will still get its 2 tricks in the fullness of time.

 

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All Rights Reserved