At first glance it may appear
that the only chance is for East to hold the singleton or doubleton Club King.
If that is the case then Declarer can cross to the Spade Ace, lead a Club and
finesse (assuming that the King does not appear from East). If the Club King
comes down in two rounds, and if trumps are 3-2, then the Clubs will run and
there will be no fewer than 12 tricks.
►
But we have bad news for you.
The Club King does not come down in two rounds. Does this mean that the
contract is doomed to failure? Not if you realize the potential of the Spade
Six! Why can that card help?
►
That valuable card is a potential
Dummy entry if one opponent or the other has Eight-Seven doubleton of trumps.
And just as valuable as the Six is your precious Three! A look at the full
diagram makes all things clear.
►
|
♠ AK6
♥
T3
♦
J7
♣ QT9764 |
|
♠ 87
♥
K542
♦
KQ943
♣ 85 |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠ 542
♥
AJ9
♦
8652
♣ K32 |
|
♠ QJT93
♥
Q876
♦
AT
♣ AJ |
|
When East returns that trump at
Trick 3, Declarer plays the Queen from hand and overtakes in Dummy. Now
the Club finesse works and the Club Ace is cashed. The Spade Jack is overtaken
in Dummy, and a Club is ruffed high. Now Dummy’s Clubs are good and,
thanks to West’s doubleton Eight-Seven of trumps, the Spade Six is an entry to
those Clubs. Well played! If you had carelessly played the Three on the first
round of trumps you would not have reaped the benefit of your extra chance.
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