Hidden Suit Establishment

Declarer in six diamonds below seemed to do everything right: he counted his tricks, he accurately drew trumps but he still went down.

Game All,
Dealer East
  • J10972
  • J5
  • 10
  • AK875
  • AQ8
  • K10643
  • AK54
  • 10
N
W
E
S
  • K
  • A9
  • Q9832
  • QJ932
  • 6543
  • Q872
  • J76
  • 64

At the table South led a club to the ace to ace in response to his partner's double of a control bid during the auction. North switched to a trump. East counted five major winners and therefore needed seven tricks from trumps; they would be the five in hand and two club ruffs in dummy. Accordingly he cashed ace and king - he couldn't afford to ruff with either if the knave was out – then set about ruffing his clubs. Unfortunately South was able to score the diamond knave and that was that.

East thought it unfortunate; if trumps had been 2-2 or clubs 4-3, or the long trump been with the long club, he'd have been fine. But…

Invariably wherever you find a ruffing plan there's always a suit establishment alternative lurking (and, of course, vice versa). Here it was to establish hearts, but there are some transportation problems to surmount. Win the ♦Q, ♠K and ♥A and play a diamond to dummy's ace-king. If trumps are indeed 2-2 you can claim but if either defender holds three, play the spade ace throwing a heart and ruff a heart – the second round. Come back to the last top trump and ruff the hearts good. When you trump a club back to West, that hand is high.

Dates for your diary:

Suffolk Mid Anglia Pairs; Stoke-by-Nayland, Sunday 21st January 2:00pm. £9 per player including tea for a two session event. Entries to Jyl Marsh Tel. 01206 322546

Sudbury and Colchester Swiss Teams Congress 2007; Sunday 4th March 2007 1.45pm for 2.00pm Start. Leavenheath Village Hall, Wright's Way, Leavenheath CO6 4NR. £40.00 per team, including Tea. Entries Mrs Beryl Simpson, 13, Sweet Briar Close, Leavenheath, Suffolk CO6 4NP. Telephone 01206 263945

Suffolk Club Teams of Four; Stoke-by-Nayland, Sunday 18th March 2:00pm. £9 per player including tea. Clubs are invited to enter as many teams as they wish. Entries, Jyl Marsh as before.

Published Saturday 20.Jan.2007