Problem # 47

 

 

South’s 2NT was artificial (Lebensohl), asking Partner to bid 3♣.  When Dummy comes down it’s easy enough to see why she by-passed the relay.

 

After the J♥ lead, there are 8 top tricks, and Diamonds looks like the obvious place to try for a 9^th.  You lay down the K♦, and West shows out.

 

Your hopes of running the Diamonds have been dashed, but at least you now have 9 sure tricks.  You lead the J♦, which East covers, and, of course, you play low from your hand in order to ensure the third Diamond trick.  In with the Q♦ East makes the good play of returning a Diamond, forcing you to take the two Diamond winners immediately.  Now, comes the real problem.  Do you satisfy yourself with 9 tricks?  Or do you lead towards Dummy’s K♣, trying for 10 tricks, but risking ignominious defeat if you are wrong?

 

SOLUTION

 

This one’s easy if you count up the missing points.  The opponents started out with 9 HCP’s, and East has already shown up with the Q♦.  If East were also to have the A♣, that would leave West with a maximum of 3 HCP’s for his Weak Two bid.  So, we suggest that you take your life in your hands and play a Club towards the King.  Yes, once in a while you’ll look foolish as you go down in your cold contract, but that’s matchpoints.  But surely it’s reasonable to assume that, most of the time, West will have the A♣.

 

	♠ AKQ ♥ AKQ ♦ KJ4 ♣ K543
♠ 8765 ♥ JT8763 ♦ ♣ A82	Dummy West           East          South	♠ 942 ♥ 4 ♦ QT852 ♣ QT97
	♠ JT3 ♥ 952 ♦ A9763 ♣ J6

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