posted May 2009

VUgraph

Semi-Finals of the Vanderbilt Teams-of-4. You are EAST.

Bd: 52, Dlr: West, Vul: Both East S QJ8 H Q105 D AK952 C 32 West North East South Greco Hamman YOU Zia Pass 1NT* Pass 3NT *15-17 Pass Pass Pass

QUIZ:   What do you lead?

SOLUTION:

Bd: 52 Dlr: West Vul: Both North S 953 H AKJ4 D Q103 C AQ5 West East S A64 S QJ8 H 8732 H Q105 D 74 D AK952 C 9864 C 32 South S K1072 H 96 D J86 C KJ107 Open Room: Closed Room: West North East South West North East South Greco Hamman Hampson Zia Rodwell BradMoss Meckstroth Gitelman Pass 1NT Pass 3NT Pass 1NT Pass 2C Pass Pass Pass Pass 2H Pass 2NT Pass 3NT Dbl Pass Trick 1: DA D6 D7 D3 Pass Pass Trick 2: D5 D8 D4 DQ Trick 3: CA C2 C7 C4 Trick 1: D5 DJ D4 D3 Trick 4: C5 C3 CJ C6 Trick 2: C7 C6 CA C2 Trick 5: CK C8 CQ H5 Trick 3: C5 C3 CT C8 Trick 6: CT C9 DT HT Trick 4: CK C4 CQ HT Trick 7: H6 H2 HA HQ Trick 5: CJ C9 S3 H5 Trick 8: HK S8 H9 H3 Trick 6: H9 H3 HA HQ Trick 9: HJ D2 S2 H7 Trick 7: HK S8 H6 H2 Trick 10: H4 Trick 8: HJ D2 D6 H7 Trick 9: DQ DA D8 D7 9 Tricks Claimed +600. Trick 10: DK S2 S4 DT 8 Tricks Claimed -200. 13 IMPs to team Nickell.

Hamman did well to read the cards! From East's heart discards on the run of the clubs, he deduced that the A was with West. Now the throw-in at trick 10 was required. Well done!

In the closed room, Meckstroth led the text-book 5.
Meckstroth also threw hearts on the clubs, knowing that if declarer had A-K-J, then partner would have the A, and 8 tricks will be the limit.   Of course, partner needed the 8xxx too.   And so it was...

The Q lead also beats this contract, provided you duck a diamond at trick 2.