the king of spades

The Round 14 match between Norway and South Africa featured two deals on which the key to success was to play the king of spades at the critical moment. South Africa’s Tim Cope may be having nightmares about that card after getting both decisions wrong.

Board 4. Dealer West. All Vul.
	♠ K 9 7 ♥ Q J 4 ♦ K 9 5 2 ♣ J 4 2
♠ A 5 4 2 ♥ A 8 5 ♦ A 7 6 ♣ A 7 5		♠ Q 10 8 3 ♥ 10 6 3 ♦ J 10 ♣ K Q 8 3
	♠ J 6 ♥ K 9 7 2 ♦ Q 8 4 3 ♣ 10 9 6

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Cope	Helness	Holman
1NT	Pass	2♣	Pass
2♠	Pass	4♠	All Pass

Cope led the queen of hearts and Glen Holman encouraged. Geir Helgemo found the best play for his contract, winning immediately to keep North in the dark regarding the heart length around the table, then leading ace and another spade. From North’s point of view, declarer was surely missing the jack of spades for this play, so what could be more natural than to play low and hope for a misguess?

Board 13. Dealer North. All Vul.
	♠ K 9 6 5 ♥ A K J 5 4 2 ♦ 3 ♣ 6 4
♠ A Q 7 ♥ 10 3 ♦ A Q 9 5 ♣ K 9 7 5		♠ 10 8 4 2 ♥ 9 8 ♦ J 8 4 ♣ J 8 3 2
	♠ J 3 ♥ Q 7 6 ♦ K 10 7 6 2 ♣ A Q 10

West	North	East	South
Helgemo	Cope	Helness	Holman
	1♥	Pass	2♦
Pass	2♥	Pass	4♥
All Pass

Tor Helness led the two of clubs against 4♥ and Cope put in the queen, losing to Helgemo’s king. Back came the ten of hearts, which Cope won in hand to lead a club to the ten, after which the ♣A provided a parking place for his diamond loser.

Cope continued by ruffing a diamond, Helgemo putting up the queen, then leading low to the ♠J, losing to the queen. Helgemo returned a second trump. Cope won in dummy and led the three of spades, on which Helgemo played a smooth seven. Once again, putting up the ♠K would have been the winning action, but Cope put in the nine, losing to the ten. Helness returned a club, the ruff and discard being of no benefit to declarer, of course. Cope ruffed in hand and had to decide how to play the spades. This time, leading low and ruffing out the ace would have brought home the contract, but he instead tried leading the king, in an attempt to pin a bare eight in the West hand. Helgemo won with the ace of spades for down one.

The ♠K may not be Cope’s favourite card right now, but he would have been happy with the result as South Africa won the match by 66-39 IMPs, 21-9 VPs, despite these two results. They gained three slam swings, 6NT making against 6♠ minus one on Board 10, a well bid 6♥ by Cope/Holman on Board 15, missed at the other table, and a safe 4♠ plus two by Craig Gower and Alon Apteker on Board 16 against 6♠ down two at the other table.