First, let’s take a look at how
Declarer bungled things when the hand was originally played. He didn’t bother to
count his tricks, perhaps feeling that it would have been rather unsporting to
waste time when he had so many trumps and all those Club winners. At Trick 2,
he played a trump to Dummy’s Ace and, when East showed out, Declarer paused for
thought (one trick too late!). It was then that he got that awful sinking
feeling in the pit of his stomach, realizing that he could no longer get two
ruffs in Dummy because of the shortage of entries back to his hand. Getting
only one ruff would leave him a trick short, so he tried to set up the Clubs,
but that lifeline failed him when the suit was 4-1. Down one!
Now imagine yourself as Dummy. Ever the
diplomat, how would you deal with this tragic situation?
►
“Rotten luck”, you will
sympathize in soothing tones. “If Spades or Clubs had broken reasonably you
would have made your slam”. What you will politely refrain from saying is “You
blundering buffoon! Why on earth didn’t you win the opening Diamond lead, cash
the Hearts (pitching Diamonds), ruff a Diamond high, get back to hand
with a trump, ruff a Heart high, cross back with another trump, and draw
the last trump?”
►
|
♠ AK42
♥
♦
764
♣ AKT654 |
|
♠ 765
♥
T762
♦
KQT95
♣ 3 |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠
♥
QJ9543
♦
J82
♣ QJ98 |
|
♠ QJT983
♥
AK8
♦
A3
♣ 72 |
|
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