Here’s a miracle hand. It was
played at matchpoint scoring
in a local bridge club.
It started with a light
opening bid (by American
standards). South was hoping
that North’s 2♠ rebid meant
a six-card suit, but this time,
he simply had a weak hand
and was trying to slow down
the auction. West’s double of
6♠ was a touch too greedy
and he learnt a lesson when
South removed to 6NT. The
second double was probably
an emotional reaction!
Declarer won the heart lead
in hand, cashed ♦A-K and ♠A. At this point, everything
under the sun had fallen and
declarer claimed 12 tricks
(three spades, three hearts,
five diamonds and one club).
Had South played it out, he
would have squeezed West for
another trick. He could cash ♣A and ♥A, then the rest of
the diamonds and last heart.
West would have been unable
to protect clubs and spades.
The theory of restricted
choice says that the
diamond honour is likely
to be a singleton (although
the double of 6NT may have
influenced South against
this). Playing for a singleton
diamond honour, South
should have gone over to ♦A
and finesse in diamonds. West
would have won ♥Q. But, West
who forgot to lead ♣K soon
would have been squeezed.
If he had exited with ¨K,
declarer could win, cash his
red tricks and come down
to ♠A-5 and ♣J-8 opposite ♠QJ76. West must reduce to
3 spades in order to keep ♣Q.
This allows declarer to cash
four miraculous spade tricks.
Twitter ID : @HemaDeora
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