DSBA Web Page Declarer Problem of the Month
June, 1999
This month's hand is based on a deal from a recent NABC.
Dealer: South
Vulnerable: E-W
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NORTH  K 7 6 5 2 J 9 8 4 3 A 7 6 |
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SOUTH A Q J 9 4 --- 9 8 3 2 K Q 4 2 |
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AUCTION |
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SOUTH |
WEST |
NORTH |
EAST |
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1 |
2 |
3 |
Dbl |
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4 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
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4 |
Pass |
5 |
Pass |
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6 |
Pass |
Pass |
Pass |
West leads the A (A from AK). You ruff, cross to the A (West following with the 4 and East with the 7) , and lead a small club. East rises with the A (West following with the 8) and returns the 3, West following with the T. Plan the play.
Solution Part A
This may seem pretty straightforward. If East has 3 diamonds and West has only five for his overcall, you can secure your contract by ruffing one club and two diamonds low, and ruffing the fourth diamond high.
What can go wrong? The main problem that can occur is that East has a doubleton diamond and the missing spade (in this case you can not ruff two diamonds low, as one will be overruffed).
How likely is that? Well, consider the bidding. East's double of 3 usually suggests possession of one of the top two diamonds (so West can lead it safely). If East has three diamonds, then West has overcalled with 1-4-5-3 or 1-3-5-4 pattern with a moderate diamond suit: he might have preferred a takeout double instead of an overcall with these hands.
Nonetheless, you are not 100% sure what the layout is, so your first move should be to win the Q in hand and ruff a diamond, hoping for the 5-3 diamonds. When you do this, West follows with the 5, and, as you feared, East drops the K. Now what?