presents Professor IMP's Weekly
Master Class #19
To Prof. IMP Index
- |
'Textbook Play' |
Checking Butler scores from the Bridge Olympiad at Maastricht, one
of Professor IMP's students' attention was caught by a slammish
deal from the round-robin. South was faced with a bidding and a play problem.
Being dealer at both sides vulnerable, the Souths at several tables
opened the bidding with 1
holding
10 7 5 4 3 2 
- 
A Q J 
A
K J 8.
West overcalled 2, North jumped
to 4 and East competed with 5.
At the table, South had no idea what the final contract should be: 5, 6
or 7. He therefore opted for a
middle-of-the-road 6.
West led the K and when
dummy unfolded it looked that the small slam was just the right spot to
be in:
-
| S/both |
A K J 6
10
10 8 3
10 9 5 4 2 |
|
| |
 |
|
| e |
10 7 5 4 3 2
-
A Q J
A K J 8 |
|
|
-
|
-
Declarer ruffed and cashed two high spades. The trumps split 1-2, East
having the Queen of trumps. Next came the A
to which both opponents followed with a low card.
At this point it appeared that the right play is to cash another high
club. If the Queen did not drop delarer still could put his hopes on the
diamond finesse. Much to his surprise the student noted that most declarers
rejected that plan. They crossed to dummy with a trump and played a club
to the Jack. With the actual layout this turned out to be successful:
-
-
| S/both |
A K J 6
10
10 8 3
10 9 5 4 2 |
|
9
K Q J 4 3 2
K 6 5 4 2
3 |
|
Q 8
A 9 8 7 6 5
9 7
Q 7 6 |
| e |
10 7 5 4 3 2
-
A Q J
A K J 8 |
|
|
- |
-
'I was astonished,' the student admitted. 'How could South be so certain
that East possessed the Q-third
on this deal?'
'He was not sure at all, young man', Professor IMP replied,
'but finessing in clubs on the second round of that suit was a fullproof
safety play. Should West win with the Queen, then he would have no good
card to exit with. He would either have to give declarer a second diamond
trick, or, with a heart return, a ruff and sluff. In both cases South's
other potential diamond loser would be discarded on dummy's fifth club.
Rather elementary this textbook play, I would say.'
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