Partner Opens with a Pre-empt
Board 1 Dlr: N Nil Vul
NORTH
ª KQJ986
© 3
¨K63
§ J82
WEST EAST
ª 42 ª T5
© K652 © QJT97
¨7 ¨984
§ AKQT97 § 643
ª A73
© A84
§ 5
Bidding: W N E S
2ª P 2NT
3§ 3¨ P 6ª
South's uses the forcing 2NT enquiry and discovers that opener has a good Weak Two with a high diamond honour (clearly ¨K). Slam looks a reasonable bet.
East's natural lead would be ©Q, but when partner overcalls it is usually right to lead that suit. The correct card from three small is the middle one (MUD – middle first, then up, and last down). West wins with the queen (lowest of touching equals) and switches to a heart.
This hand is easy to play. As declarer you win the switch, draw trumps and play your winning diamonds (honour from the short hand first) for twelve tricks and a score of 6x30 + 300 + 500 = 980. If East fails to lead a club after partner’s overcall, declarer will make all thirteen tricks, throwing her losing clubs on dummy's winning diamonds. And West will be very cross.
Board 2 Dlr: E NS Vul
NORTH
ª -
© JT8
¨K752
§ Q87532
WEST EAST
ª AKQT ª 87642
© AKQ7532 © 9
¨ 6 ¨ A843
§ A § J64
SOUTH
ª J953
© 64
¨ QJT9
§ KT9
Bidding: W N E S
P P
2§ P 2¨ P
2© P 2ª P
4NT P 5¨ P
7ª
After East's 2¨ negative (any 0-7 HCP) West must not be in a hurry. The 2© rebid is absolutely forcing to game. East wants to run away but bids 2ª. As a negative response does not deny holding an ace, West might as well check via Blackwood. The one-ace response drives West to bid grand slam!
On the lead of ¨ Q, your first impression as declarer is that you can count at least 14 tricks!
You win ¨ A and play a trump to the ace. North shows out! Did you notice? Did cunning North play a low club - black on black - to make it harder for you?
You realize that South still holds J95. You can avoid losing a trump only by returning to hand and finessing dummy's ªT. This is called a marked finesse (100% success). How can you get back to your hand?
Play ©A and ruff a heart in hand. Fortunately it is not over-ruffed. Now lead a trump. A sensible South should play low and you must put in the ten. Now you can draw the remaining trumps and play out your winning hearts. Grand slam bid and made for a score of 7x30 + 500 + 1500 = 2210!
ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª ©
Board 3 Dlr: S EW Vul
NORTH
ª AQ43
© A84
¨ Q875
§ AQ
WEST EAST
ª KJ97 ª T862
© QJT7 © K532
¨ 3 ¨ A
§ JT63 § 9752
SOUTH
ª 5
© 96
¨ KJT9642
§ K84
Bidding: W N E S
3¨
P 6¨
South counts some 5½ playing tricks in diamonds. At favourable vulnerability, 3¨ is the logical opening. North can count 3 sure tricks, 2 more possibles with the black queens, and maybe a ruffing value in clubs. In a rush of optimism brought on by the opponents' success last time, slam is bid.
©Q is led and you survey your prospects as declarer. ¨ A is a sure loser & the only one you can afford. The little heart in your hand is the problem. What can be done? If you play trumps the opponents will win and cash their heart winner. You will have to dispose of a heart first. How? The only possible extra winner in dummy is ªQ if the ªK lies ‘under’ the ªAQ. But you need to get back to your hand in order to take the finesse. How?
Win ©A in dummy, overtake dummy's §Q with §K in your hand and try the spade finesse by leading towards ªAQ and playing the queen when West sensibly plays low. It wins! Now discard your ©9 on ªA and play trumps.
Win the return, draw the last trump and ruff a club in dummy for your 12th trick and a score of 6x20 + 300 + 500 = 920. This was a tougher one to negotiate because this spade finesse was only a 50% chance! Fortune favours the brave.
ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª ©
Board 4 Dlr: W All Vul
NORTH
ª T8
© 6
¨ T98754
§ QT87
WEST EAST
ª 7 ª AKQJ2
© T97532 © KQJ4
¨ 63 ¨ AQJ
§ AKJ3 § 2
SOUTH
ª 96543
© A8
¨ K2
§ 9654
Bidding: W N E S
P P 2§ P
2¨ P 2ª P
3© P 4NT P
5¨ P 6©
West, with a poor heart suit decides to bid 2¨, waiting, and is then happy to introduce her heart suit. East has rosy visions of grand slam but settles for 6© when partner shows only one ace in reply to Blackwood.
North leads ¨ T. Do you finesse this time? North could be leading aggressively from KT9. A finesse is not like Mount Everest, to be taken simply because it is there. Never go for a 50% chance if there is a near 100% chance available. Count your tricks - 5 trumps after the ace is lost, 4 top ªs & 3 top tricks in the minors.
Win ¨ A. Play ªAK, throwing ¨ 6 from hand & then play trumps. A vulnerable slam is there for the taking for a score of 6x30 + 500 + 750 = 1430.
ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨ § ª © ¨
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