Page 25 - ABF Newsletter October 2024

IMPROVE YOUR DEFENCE
with Ron Klinger
Solution to problem on page 2
LOW TRICK
Dealer West, North-South vulnerable.
] 10 4 3 [876432 }J6
{K9
[K9
S }A8543
{Q872 EAST SOUTH
pass 1NT 1 pass 2[
Clearly, the defence will have one club trick at best and at most one more diamond trick. The heart po- sition is a mystery, but it is also clear that the best suit to attack is spades. Partner’s spades do not in- clude the ]A-K, would have led, but partner might have the ]K or the ]J or ]A-J.
If East switches to the ]Q, taken by the ]A, when West gains the lead later, West cannot continue spades without allowing dummy’s ]10 to win. There- fore, after taking the }A, East should switch to the ]2. That is what happened and by retaining the ]Q, East enabled West to continue spades safely later.
Winning trick two with the ]A, South played the [5. West won with the [10 and returned the ]8: four - queen - king. South played the }K and }Q, pitching dummy’s ]10, as West ruffed with the [J. West con- tinued with the ]J, ruffed with the [8 and overruffed with the [K.
The defenders had taken four tricks and still had the {A and [A to come for one down, East-West +100 and +2 imps (datum EW 30).
Other results: N-S 2[ +110 x 2, +4 imps, -300 (]8 lead) x 1, -7 imps; EW 3{ -50, -2 imps.
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WEST NORTH pass pass pass 2} 2 all pass
1. 15-17.
2. Transfer to hearts.
N WE
West leads the }10 and East wins with the }A. What next?
From Stage 2, Round 9 of the 2023 Butler Trials:
Board 9, Dealer West, North-South vulnerable.
] 10 4 3 [876432 }J6
{K9
]AK76 [Q5 }KQ72 {J53
]Q2
]J985 [ A J 10 } 10 9
{ A 10 6 4
]Q2 [K9 }A8543 {Q872
After South opened 1NT in fourth seat and North bid 2}, transfer to hearts, South’s 2[ was passed out, West led the }10 and East won with the }A. What next?
Australian Bridge Federation Ltd. Newsletter: October 2024
Page: 25