Ruff_Hi's Antics

All Happiness is the Release of Internal Pressure

The following is a short description of a (slightly) interesting bridge hand. I start by introducing the hand and then suggesting how you might want to play it.

Declarer AKxxx xxxx Ax Kx Bidding 1S 2H 4S

Dummy xxx Qx Qxx AQJ10x 2C 2S

East starts with the Ace and King of Hearts, then switchs to the King of Daimonds. Prospects are not looking good, you have a certain loser in Spades and a loser in Diamonds and maybe a loser in Hearts The only way this contract is making is if the following all apply: spades break 3-2 the opps with the long spade has at least 3 clubs Not a great contract, but not too bad.

 

I've included the first two tricks for completeness ...

1. [East with the Ace of Hearts]
2. [East with the King of Hearts]

... now, you step up and take control ...

3. Win the Ace of Diamonds
4. Ace Spades (mistake here to ruff a heart as you could get over-ruffed)
5. King Spades (hopefully both opps have followed)
6. King Clubs
7. Small Club to the Ace
8. Queen Club (discarding Diamond - again, hopefully both opps have followed suit)
9. Jack Club (discarding Heart)

It doesn't matter if the Jack of clubs gets ruffed or not. If it does get ruffed, you have lost 3 tricks and still have 3 trumps in hand plus the heart ruff in dummy to bring your total 10. If it doesn't get ruffed, you only need 3 from the last 4 tricks and, again, your 3 trumps in hand plus 1 in dummy will get you there.

What happened? You started with 4 losers and you ensured that the opps made two of their winners on the same trick (the master trump and the Diamond).