Little Things Mean A Lot

by Ron Klinger

		♠ 10 8 6 5 ♥ 10 8 7 4 ♦ A 7 6 ♣ Q 4
	♠ A 4 ♥ K 5 3 ♦ Q 10 9 4 ♣ J 9 8 7

With both sides vulnerable:

West	North	East	South
			Pass
1♣	Pass	1♥	Pass
1♠	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	1NT	All Pass

The play goes:

1. ♠8: four queen - king
2. ♦8: six four king
3. ♠2: three five ace
4. ♦Q: two three ace
5. ♠6: ♦9 from dummy ♠J ♠9
6. ♠7: ♣5 from North ♠10 - ♥3 from dummy

What would you play next as East? The deals that appear in Daily Bulletins or tournament reports usually feature a big swing, something spectacular or high-level contracts. Often the struggle between declarer and the defence at a low level can be just as fascinating. So it was early on in the semi-finals:

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

At two tables East/West had a comfortable time:

West	North	East	South
Kranyak	Grainger	Grue	Lavee
G.Grenthe	Bruas	J.Grenthe	Araszkiew
			Pass
1♣/1♦	Pass	1♥	Pass
1♠	Pass	2♠	All Pass

This contract was safe and at both tables a trump was led. Grenthe made eight tricks and Kranyak scored an overtrick. After three rounds of spades, he led hearts and South pitched a club on the third heart.

West	North	East	South
Wolpert	Hurd	Demuy	Wooldridge
			Pass
1♣	Pass	1♥	Pass
1NT	All Pass

North led the ♦3 to the queen and king. West played the ♠J: three, five, ace, and South returned the ♦4: five, eight, seven. North continued with the ♦J: ace, ten, two. The ♠6 came from dummy to the queen and king and North did very well to shift to the ♥6: four, king, two. This was the position:

	♠ 9 ♥ A Q J ♦ ♣ 10 6 5
♠ 7 2 ♥ 9 ♦ ♣ A K 3 2		♠ 10 8 ♥ 10 8 7 ♦ ♣ Q 4
	♠ ♥ 5 3 ♦ 9 ♣ J 9 8 7

South cashed the ♦9 and had to decide what to play next. The play on the ♦9 was significant. West threw the ♣2, North the ♠9 and East the ♠8. No sooner had the words ‘Fine defence’ appeared on BBO, when South switched to a club and declarer had seven tricks for +90, but 2 IMPs to USA1. No doubt North thought that the low heart switch was sufficient guidance for South, but a club-discouraging discard from North on the ♦9 might have confirmed to South that a heart return was necessary.

West	North	East	South
Kotorowicz	O.Bessis	Kalita	De Tessieres
			Pass
1♣	Pass	1♥	Pass
1♠	Pass	Pass	Dble
Pass	1NT	All Pass

East led the ♠8: four, queen (sic), king, and declarer played the ♦8: six, four, king. The ♠2 took out the ace, East playing the ♠5. The ♦Q came from dummy: two, three, ace. When East continued with the ♠6 to the jack, declarer discarded the ♦9 from dummy. This was the position:

	♠ ♥ A Q J 6 ♦ J ♣ 10 6 5
♠ 7 ♥ 9 2 ♦ 5 ♣ A K 3 2		♠ 10 ♥ 10 8 7 4 ♦ 7 ♣ Q 4
	♠ ♥ K 5 3 ♦ 10 ♣ J 9 8 7

When the next spade was played, North threw the ♣5 and South the ♥3. The spotlight was on East. What should he play next? To the viewing audience a club was obvious. When East chose the ‘safe’ heart exit, declarer had seven tricks for the first 5 IMPs to France.