Three Kings

By Mark Horton

When a deal is played so many times, as happens in every major championship, some of the best stories only come to the surface after a while. Here are three where a king played some part in the proceedings:

Board 3. Dealer South. E/W Vul.
	♠ Q 10 8 6 ♥ 8 2 ♦ Q 4 ♣ K Q J 9 8
♠ K 7 4 ♥ J 7 6 4 ♦ A 9 8 6 3 ♣ 5		♠ J 9 ♥ A K Q 10 9 5 3 ♦ 7 ♣ 10 6 3
	♠ A 5 3 2 ♥ – ♦ K J 10 5 2 ♣ A 7 4 2

West	North	East	South
	Kovachev		Isporski
			1♦
Pass	1♠	3♥	4♥
5♥	Dble	All Pass

Five Hearts doubled was a popular contract and appears to be an easy make. However, appearances can be deceptive for when South led the two of spades you can’t really blame declarer for playing low from dummy.

That was king number one. There was more opening lead flair on display on this already heavily discussed deal:

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

West	North	East	South
	Isporski		Kovachev
	1♠	2♥	3♦
Pass	4♣	Pass	4♥
Pass	4♠	Pass	6♣
All Pass

East led the jack of diamonds and declarer naturally rejected the finesse, putting up the ace and returning a diamond. East won and switched to the king of hearts, driving out one of dummy’s entries. Declarer can still get home, but perhaps unnerved by East’s opening salvo, he refused the spade finesse, mistimed the play and went down.

That was king number 2. My final offering comes from the last match of the Swiss Plate.

Board 8. Dealer West. None Vul.
	♠ A ♥ Q 4 3 2 ♦ Q 7 6 4 ♣ Q J 10 9
♠ 10 8 4 ♥ 9 ♦ K J 10 8 3 2 ♣ K 7 3		♠ Q 9 6 2 ♥ K 10 7 5 ♦ A 5 ♣ A 4 2
	♠ K J 7 5 3 ♥ A J 8 6 ♦ 9 ♣ 8 6 5

est	North	East	South
	Isporski		Kovachev
3♦	Pass	3NT	4♦!
Pass	4♥	Dble	All Pass

With 3NT doomed Four Hearts was not exactly a bright spot to be in, but to use the old adage, ‘The play’s the thing.’

East cashed the ace of diamonds and seeing partner’s two continued with the ace of clubs and a club. West took the king and played a third club. Declarer won, unblocked the ace of spades and advanced the queen of hearts. When West covered (a fatal error – and king number 3) declarer won with dummy’s ace, ruffed a spade and played a heart, covering East’s five with the six. He cashed the king of spades, ruffed a spade and played the queen of clubs. East, down to ♥107 and ♦5 was helpless.