Just in Time

By Mark Horton

If I see something interesting on Bridgebase I tend to type it up at once least I forget, but there is no guarantee that it will find its way into the bulletin.

This little story would have gone the way of several others had it not been for the intervention of one of my friends on the site that has been covering the Championships in such brilliant fashion.

Board 11. Dealer South. None Vul.
	♠ A Q 7 4 3 ♥ Q 10 5 2 ♦ K ♣ A 10 7
♠ J 2 ♥ 7 6 ♦ J 8 7 6 4 3 ♣ J 5 2		♠ K 9 6 5 ♥ K 8 4 3 ♦ 10 5 ♣ 9 8 3
	♠ 10 8 ♥ A J 9 ♦ A Q 9 2 ♣ K Q 6 4

West	North	East	South
			1♣
Pass	1♥	Pass	1NT
Pass	2♦	Pass	2♥
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West led the eight of diamonds and dummy's king took the trick. Declarer ran the ten of hearts, repeated the finesse and took the spade finesse. When that lost he was held to eleven tricks.

The bridgebase commentators wondered if it was possible for declarer to make 12 tricks? Clearly if West were kind enough to lead the jack of spade life would be simple, and a heart lead might also do the tricks if East failed to read the position and put up the king. Although I can't see any obvious reason for doing so, suppose declarer, after a couple of heart finesses simply sets about cashing his winners?

	♠ A Q 7 ♥ – ♦ – ♣ –
♠ J 2 ♥ – ♦ J ♣ –		♠ K 9 6 ♥ – ♦ – ♣ –
	♠ 10 8 ♥ – ♦ 9 ♣ –

Now if declarer plays the eight of spades he is in clover. If West plays low East will win and be endplayed. If West plays the jack declarer takes the ace and plays back the suit.

By the time I had typed this up the commentators were still trying to figure it out! Five declarers recorded +490, two after the lead of the jack of spades, two after the seven of hearts and one after the five of diamonds. Now, did any of them have to play as I suggested?