BRIDGE BITES #49
|
MANAGING THE
ENTRIES
Brian Gunnell |
This week’s hand comes from a
duplicate bridge event, where the method of scoring generously rewards the
making of overtricks.
♠ AKT9
♥
Q
♦
987
♣ T9764 |
E-W
Vulnerable
South West North
East
1♥
Pass 1♠ Pass
2♣
Pass
3♣
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
Can Declarer
make 10 tricks after a low Diamond lead? Our
title is one
clue, and we’ll also say that West is a slippery
cove, and that the
play in Clubs is crucial. Alright, that’s
enough
clues, now let’s critique Declarer’s line of play. |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠
♥
KJ964
♦
AQ6
♣ A8532 |
West leads the Diamond Three, to East’s King
and Declarer’s Ace. He cashes the ♣A
(both defenders following suit), and loses a Club which West wins. West returns
the Diamond Ten, should Declarer win this trick?
►
No, he holds off with the Queen, and wins the
Diamond continuation (everybody following). His hope is that the defender with
the ♥A
is the one who does not have the 13th Diamond. If that is the case
then he can see his way to 10 tricks, via two Spade, two Hearts, two Diamonds
and four Clubs. Now Declarer plays a Heart to the Queen, which surprisingly
holds the trick. These are the remaining cards:
►
♠ AKT9
♥
♦
♣ T97 |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠
♥
KJ96
♦
♣ 853 |
At
this point in the proceedings, how should Declarer be feeling about his play so
far?
►
He should feel sick as a dog! He
has blown his chance for 10 tricks, do you see why he’ll never score a second
Heart trick and where he went wrong?
►
The defender who ducked the
♥Q did
something very clever! She realized that the Club spots allowed Declarer only
one entry back to his hand. That was not enough to both knock out the
♥A and also get
back to the established Heart trick. So, making only 9 tricks. Here is the
full diagram:
|
♠ AKT9
♥
Q
♦
987
♣ T9764 |
|
♠ Q832
♥
AT75
♦
T43
♣ KQ |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠ J7654
♥
832
♦
KJ52
♣ J |
|
♠
♥
KJ964
♦
AQ6
♣ A8532 |
|
West made a good play by ducking
the Heart but Declarer did not have to give him a chance to shine. On the first
two rounds of Clubs, Declarer should play Dummy’s ♣9 and ♣T. Now, with ♣764
on the board and ♣853 in hand, there are two entries to hand, and
also one back to the board later, with which to reach the ♠AK. Careful
management of the entries nullifies West’s clever duck and brings in that
valuable overtrick.
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