-	'When Count Counts'

This deal occurred in one of the last rounds:
 

-  E/NS 10 7 2  Q 9 3  10 6 3  Q 10 6 5   -      --- e K J 3  K J 7 4 2  K 5  J 8 2

-  WEST----   Pass  Pass  2  Pass    - NORTH --  Pass  Pass  2 EAST----   1-  Double  Pass    SOUTH  1  Pass  Pass

West led the K, East followed with 9 (upside down signals) and South dumped his Jack. Apparently, West took the 9 as suit preference signal, for he instantly switched to the 5. After a small hesitation East inserted the eight and declarer won with the Jack.

'Take it from here,' Professor IMP told one of his pupils with whom he was analysing all the deals.
'It looks to me that declarer is the favorite to prevail,' the student replied. 'He might come to four heart tricks, two spades, a club and a diamond. As East opened and West already showed seven points in clubs, East is bound to have the other aces.'
'True and not true, young man,' Professor IMP remarked. 'As to theaces, you are quite right. Still, there are several hurdles to take, such as difficult communications and a bad trump break.'

The Professor started a rather lengthy lecture. He explained that when you thought of it, a lot is known about the defenders' hands. West is almost certain to have three spades, as he had two opportunities to bid them if holding four of them. According to their (reverse) count signals, West has exactly three clubs. West had not bid diamonds right away, and therefore he will have three cards only in that suit, which leaves with him four hearts.

In real life, the Professor saw South continue with the J. East won and shifted to A and other diamond for the King. Declarer played a heart, finessing the nine, on which East discarded a diamond. At this point declarer called for the Q, taken by West (holding up would be of no use). The next diamond was ruffed in hand and declarer crossed to dummy with a club, in order to play a spade. East took his Ace, and now the position, with declarer being booked, was:
 

-  E/NS 10  Q  -  6   6    10 8    -    - Q 9  -  J  - e K  K 7  -  -

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A spade return by East would easily give South the rest of the tricks. So East did well to fire back the J and South did well to ruff with the seven, making the contract unbeatable. If West got rid of his spade, dummy would do the same and South would cross-ruff the rest. At the table, West overruffed with the eight, dummy overruffing with the Queen, and the last two tricks were won by the major-suit Kings. The full deal was:

-  E/NS 10 7 2  Q 9 3  10 6 3  Q 10 6 5   6 5 4    10 8 6 5    Q 8 4    A K 7 A Q 9 8  A  A J 9 7 2  9 4 3 e K J 3  K J 7 4 2  K 5  J 8 2

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