Repelling a switch
How can declarer increase his chances that the opponents do not find the winning switch?
That was the issue I had to face on Board 20 of the Saturday evening, July 23 session of a two-session regional pairs at the Toronto NABCs.
West
♠ 985 ♥ AK3 ♦ KQ ♣ JT876 |
East
♠ Q2 ♥ JT9 ♦ A653 ♣ KQ42 |
As West, I opened 1♣ and rebid 1NT over partner’s 1♦ response. Partner raised to 3NT and North led the ♥5.
Clearly, I need to knock out the ♣A. I was fortunate to have escaped a spade opening lead. How can I best continue that good fortune when I must let the opponents in once again?
I played a heart from dummy and South followed with the ♥6 (presumptively right side up count). I won the first trick with the ♥K, trying to look like a man with AK tight. I led a club from hand and North hopped with the ♣A, his partner playing the ♣3.
At the table, not only did I escape a spade switch, but when North returned a second heart (the two), I was back to owning three heart tricks, recovering the trick I intentionally gave away at Trick 1! Three hearts, three diamonds, and four clubs for +630 was worth 31.5 mps (on a top of 33, I think).
The whole hand:
Dealer:
Vul: |
North
♠ A764 ♥ Q8752 ♦ J92 ♣ A |
|
West
♠ 985 ♥ AK3 ♦ KQ ♣ JT876 |
East
♠ Q2 ♥ JT9 ♦ A653 ♣ KQ42 |
|
South
♠ KJT3 ♥ 64 ♦ T874 ♣ 953 |
Nice play.
It was an enlightening day when I first really understood that the problem I can see is not the same as the problem the defense can see.