Further Analysis

One of the nice things about modern technology is that we can get feedback from people around the world who have read the internet version of the Bulletin. Teng-Yuan Liang of Chhinese Taipei suggests a possible line of play on a deal from China v Norway in the Bermuda Bowl, as featured in Bulletin 8.

Board 29. Dealer North. All Vul.
	ª K 10 9 6 3 © K 10 6 ¨ J 8 § A 10 2
ª 8 © J 8 3 ¨ 7 5 4 3 2 § Q 9 6 3		ª Q J 7 2 © 7 5 4 2 ¨ A Q 10 9 § 8
	ª A 5 4 © A Q 9 ¨ K 6 § K J 7 5 4

Erik Saelensminde for Norway went one off in 4ª after misguessing the club queen. Liang suggests that there is a stronger line that does not require a club guess.

Assuming a heart lead, win in hand (North) and play a diamond to the king then concede a diamond. Declarer wins any return and cashes the remaining heart winners then cashes the ace of spades followed by a spade to the nine. It does not matter if either defender has four trumps as either there will be only one trump loser or there will be an endplay.
The only time this line fails is if there is a heart ruff from the short trump hand and, even then, declarer may be able to recover with some good views in the black suits.

(We suspect that Saelensminde was hoping to make the hand even with the ¨A offside, which might be possible if he never touched the suit then played the black suits successfully. What do you think about the two lines?)