Neutralising The Bad Break

by Ron Klinger

Seniors. Round 9.

Board 2. Dealer East. N/S Vul.
	♠ K 9 5 3 ♥ – ♦ Q J 7 3 ♣ 8 7 6 4 3
♠ 8 7 6 4 2 ♥ A Q J 2 ♦ K 9 ♣ A Q		♠ A Q ♥ 10 6 5 3 ♦ 8 2 ♣ K J 10 9 2
	♠ J 10 ♥ K 9 8 7 4 ♦ A 10 6 5 4 ♣ 5

West	North	East	South
Lilley		Smolanko
		Pass	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♣	Dble
2♥	Pass	4♥	All Pass

Lead: ♦Q

South took the ace of diamonds and returned a diamond to David Lilley's king. Lilley played the ♥Q taken by the king. Back came a diamond, ruffed in dummy as West shed a spade. A club to the ace was followed by the ♣Q, overtaken with the king. South ruffed and persevered with a fourth diamond, ruffed again in dummy as West let go of another spade. The ♥10 was cashed to leave this ending:

	♠ K 9 5 ♥ – ♦ – ♣ 8 7
♠ 8 7 6 ♥ A J ♦ – ♣ –		♠ A Q ♥ – ♦ – ♣ J 10 9
	♠ J 10 ♥ 9 8 ♦ 10 ♣ –

Lilley now simply ran the clubs. If South ruffed, West would overruff, draw the last trump, pitching the ♠Q, and dummy would make the rest. If South did not ruff, West could pitch all his spades and make the two trumps at the end. Thus Lilley could make 4♥ without needing to resort to the spade finesse.