a red herring
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h K 10 4 |
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b A Q 9 2 |
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f A Q J 4 |
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d A 5 |
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N W E S |
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h 9 |
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b K 4 |
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f K 10 8 7 6 5 3 |
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d Q 9 2 |
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Source: Ted Horning
Dealer:
N
Vul:
Both
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W |
N |
E |
S |
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2NT |
P |
4d |
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P |
4NT |
P |
6f |
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P |
P |
P |
Opening
Lead: d6
Contract: 6f
As South, you must be pleased to see such a nice dummy. All you have to do is make the contract. Now, over to you.
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h K 10 4 |
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b A Q 9 2 |
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f A Q J 4 |
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d A 5 |
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h Q 8 7 6 3 |
N W E S |
h A J 5 2 |
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b 8 7 3 |
b J 10 6 5 |
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f 9 |
f 2 |
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d K 10 7 6 |
d J 8 4 3 |
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h 9 |
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b K 4 |
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f K 10 8 7 6 5 3 |
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d Q 9 2 |
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If you played the dA because people
don’t lead away from kings against a slam contract, you have perpetrated a
classic – making the winning play for the wrong reason.
If you won all thirteen
tricks by playing a low club at trick one, I suggest that you tell anyone who
asks that you only made twelve tricks. The play of a low club at trick one risked 1370 points, to possibly
gain 20 points for an overtrick.
The fact of the matter
is that the slam is cold as long as you do not lose two tricks, and the only
way that South might lose two tricks is by playing a low club at trick one.
Consider the
alternative and correct play of the dA. You will not make seven but
after drawing trumps, the bK can be played
and then a low heart to dummy’s queen.
South’s singleton spade is then discarded on the bA. Because of those excess
diamonds in the dummy, a club can now be conceded and South’s last club trumped
in the dummy.
The dQ in the South
hand was just a test. Clearly, the
winning play after a club lead would be automatic if the if the South hand had
three small clubs. It is the wrong colour, but the dQ is just a red herring.
February 2012
(Bridge Calendar 1997)