[EarlPurple]

Scoring: IMP

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When this hand was played in a tourney, at a few tables South was declarer in 3NT after East had bid hearts, and West duly led the ♥2

East won with the ace and returned the 4, but South goes in with the king, seemingly blocking the suit.

At both tables where this defence was found, declarer went on to make his contract. Did the defenders misdefend or can declarer always make? (I know the answer, by the way, which is in hidden text below).

Spoiler

Yes, they misdefended. Declarer cannot make this contract.

Declarer crosses to dummy in diamonds and leads a spade towards his hand, and East must duck this.

Now declarer plays off all his diamonds, and he cannot afford to throw any hearts (or the suit is not blocked) or spades, therefore he must throw all his clubs.

West should also be throwing only clubs.
East should throw 1 club, 1 heart and 2 spades, throwing a spade on the last one.
Note it will not do to throw two clubs - as you will see.

Now declarer leads a spade towards his hand and East perforce wins with the ace leaving this position (text diagram because fancy one won't hide):

=============== S: -
=============== H: -
=============== D: -
=============== C: Q 10 9
====
==== S: J.....................................................S: -
==== H: J.....................................................H: Q8
==== D: -.....................................................D: -
==== C: A....................................................C: 8
====
=============== S: K
=============== H: 96
=============== D: -
=============== C: -

It is tempting for East to lead a heart but that will not do. He must lead the 8 of clubs to his partner's ace, and on this trick declarer is squeezed in the majors.

[jtfanclub]

Nope, doesn't work, sorry.


Ignore this post.

This post has been edited by jtfanclub: 2004-October-21, 18:50

[pclayton]

Very nice Earl.