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An editor has assigned a small reporter to cover the biggest social wedding their town has seen in years. The little one came back empty-handed.
“No story,” he told the editor. “The groom didn’t show up.”
There wouldn’t have been a story in today’s deal if North’s clubs had been KQ-5-3. Then North would have opened a spade and become declarer at four spades, losing a trick in each suit and closing his deal without breaking a sweat.
As it stands, South has opened, West has doubled and North has doubled. After two assists, West ran to 1NT. If he had been dubbed there, he would have redoubled to insist that East donate a costume. But North showed his support for the spade, and the South went to four spades.
West led a trump, and declarer drew trumps. He led a diamond to the mannequin queen and a diamond to her ten and West’s jack. And West was leading then… a low club.
South had to guess: should he be playing valet or king of the dead?
The South knew it was safe if the East had the king of hearts; South would lose a diamond and maybe two clubs. So, South assumed that West had the king (which was probably due to his double).
But West had shown the AJ of diamonds, and assuming he had the king of hearts, he couldn’t have the ace of clubs. He would then have opened the auction.
So South played Jack of Clubs. When East took the ace, South only lost one heart and one more diamond. If the club’s honors position is reversed, the South always succeeds since the East will have the king of hearts.
West Dealer
The two vulnerable sides
NORTH
SAJ 9 7 3
H 7 4
QD 7
CKJ 5 3
WHERE IS
S 2
HK 10 9 2
DAJ 5 2
QC 10 8 2
IS
S 5 4
HJ 6 5 3
D 9 8 6 4
CA 9 6
SOUTH
QQ 10 8 6
HAQ 8
DK 10 3
C 7 4
West North East South
Pass Pass Pass 1 S
Dbl Redbl Pass Pass
1 NT 3 S Pass 4 S
All pass
Opening wire – S 2
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