Partner | ||||
Kxxxxx | ||||
ATx | ||||
AKx | ||||
x | ||||
Me | ||||
Q | ||||
QJx | ||||
xxx | ||||
AKxxxx | ||||
Partner 1 2 Pass |
Me 2 3NT |
The opening lead is the 9. I duck in dummy, and East hesitates before playing low too. My Q wins, but I know the K is offside.
Frankly, I'm unsure of the best line so I try the Q. The opponents duck, so I now play three rounds of clubs, pitching a spade and diamond from dummy.
The clubs luckily split 3-3 - East wins the Q on the third round. After some thought, he returns a spade. I dump a diamond as West wins the A.
West now leads the 7 with a bit of enthusiasm:
Partner | ||||
Kxx | ||||
AT | ||||
AK | ||||
— | ||||
Me | ||||
— | ||||
Jx | ||||
xx | ||||
xxx |
Ugh - where are 5 more tricks? West apparently started life with 97 or 97x. If I duck this, East could win the K and return a heart. Then I'm forced to hope that spades are 3-3.
I decide to give myself an extra chance by rising with the A, and then plunking down K and another spade. This gains whenever spades are 4-2 and West specifically has
In reality, spades do split 4-2 and West does win his J, but he then cashes the K and 8! Ka-boom. I feel like an idiot going down one.
The full deal:
Partner | ||||
Kxxxxx | ||||
ATx | ||||
West | AKx | East | ||
AJxx | x | Tx | ||
K987 | xxx | |||
Jx | Me | Qxxxx | ||
Jxx | Q | Qxx | ||
QJx | ||||
xxx | ||||
AKxxxx |
Had I simply finessed in hearts again, I could have cashed my clubs and made two overtricks! Or better... at trick 1 simply take the
I think that I learned a lesson, which is to just not think at all.
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