Trump Promotion

 

Sometimes the defense does not have a natural trump trick but can generate one by a trump promotion or an upper-cut ... the examples will explain everything!

 

Related Play Problems          Play Problem 29

 

 

Related Extracts from Past Wednesday Games

 

 

30	♠ KJ ♥ 9654 ♦ KQJT83 ♣ 5	From 11th April, 2007
♠ Q874 ♥ A93 ♦ A92 ♣ 976	North West             East           South	♠ T953 ♥ KQJT ♦ 75 ♣ AT8	Dlr     East Vul     None
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ A62 ♥ 72 ♦ 64 ♣ KQJ432	West    North   East     South                         Pass    Pass Pass    2♦        Dbl      3♣ Pass    3♦        All Pass

 

3♦ is not a success, unless the defense errs grievously.  East will lead the K♥, and should shift smartly to a low trump, ducked by West.  Why the duck?  West cannot be sure that Declarer does not have the A♣, it would be most unfortunate if Declarer won the second round of trumps and claimed 11 minor suit winners, pitching major suit losers on the run of the Clubs.  So, Declarer wins the first Diamond and knocks out the A♣, but the defense is in control, drawing Dummy’s other trump and cashing its remaining three Heart winners.  Down two.

 

It turns out that the 6-1 Club fit plays better, and when West makes the natural enough Spade lead, it even makes.  In fact, the only way to beat 3♣ is an upper-cut.  Let’s say that West somehow stumbles upon the lead of the A♥, followed by a Heart to East’s hand.  Now, East must lead a Diamond, ducked by West.  Then, a Club to the King, and the Q♣ to East’s Ace.  Next is a Diamond to West’s Ace and a Diamond back … East ruffs with his Ten, hitting Declarer with an upper-cut that establishes West’s Nine.  Very nice defense!

 

 

21	♠ ♥ AT7652 ♦ KT92 ♣ J63	From 10th October, 2007
♠ 982 ♥ KQ ♦ 8 ♣ AKQT874	North West             East         Dummy	♠ J543 ♥ 983 ♦ AQ653 ♣ 9	Dlr     North Vul     N-S
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ AKQT76 ♥ J4 ♦ J74 ♣ 52	West    North   East     South             2♥        Pass    2♠ 3♣       Pass     Pass    3♥ Pass    Pass     Pass

 

Accurate defense beats 3♥ by two tricks:

            Club opening lead is won by West

            Diamond to East’s Queen

            A♦ is cashed

            Diamond ruff

            A Club is cashed.

Now, on the third round of Clubs, Dummy is forced to ruff, and that promotes the 6^th defensive trick when East’s Heart holding wins the third round of trumps.  Pretty good defense, we’d expect down one to be a more likely result.

 

20	♠ K52 ♥ A4 ♦ AJ765 ♣ 976	From 2nd January, 2008
♠ J74 ♥ 862 ♦ KQT42 ♣ KJ	North Dummy       East           South	♠ 963 ♥ KQT53 ♦ 8 ♣ AQ54	Dlr     West Vul     Both
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ AQT8 ♥ J97 ♦ 93 ♣ T832	West    North   East     South Pass    1♦        1♥        Dbl 2♥        Pass    Pass    Pass

  

Against 2♥, South leads a Diamond, and with careful defense N-S can beat 2♥ one trick:

            South leads a Diamond to North’s Ace

            Three rounds of Spades are cashed

            A Diamond is won on the board

            A Heart to Declarer’s King

            A Club to Dummy’s King

            North wins her Heart Ace

Now North leads another Diamond, promoting South’s J♥ for the setting trick.

 

 

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