Finals: Jack versus WBridge5

 

Board 9
Vul: E-W
Dealer: N

WEST

NORTH
 K 9
 4 2
 K 10 9 8 4
 8 6 3 2





EAST

 A J 10 7 2
 A 9 3
 3
 A Q 7 5




SOUTH

 5
 K 8 7 6 5
 Q J 6 5 2
 K 9

 

 Q 8 6 4 3
 Q J 10
 A 7
 J 10 4

 

 

WEST

NORTH

EAST

SOUTH

Jack

Wbridge5

Jack

Wbridge5

 

Pass

Pass

Pass

1

Pass

1NT

Pass

2

Pass

2

Pass

4

All Pass

 

 

 

Opening lead: Q

 

WBridge5 (South) found the only lead to possibly defeat 4, a trump.  With any other lead East has 10 tricks, 2 diamond ruffs, 4 hearts, 3 clubs and a spade.  Jack (East) timed the play just right.  A diamond to the J and A; a heart return by South to East’s K; K; A; spade ruff; A; Q pitching a diamond; spade ruff; and diamond ruff.  Now 12 of South’s cards are known.  With 3 cards to play, South is known to have 2 spades and either a club, a diamond or a heart. While a spade ruff looks straight forward, computers don’t understand straight forward in the same way that humans do.  Jack equally considers a club continuation straight forward since it also guarantees ten tricks.  If South’s 13th card is a club or diamond then the club ruff succeeds; if it is a heart then after the over-ruff, South must concede a spade to West.

 

Result: 4 made 4, +620 EW

 

At the other table South (Jack) led the A against Wbridge5’s 4, and the contract made easily.