Bridge problems faced at the table assume many dimensions and a player of ability and acumen usually deciphers the requirements essential for the making of the contract bid. In doing so he may not be a very knowledgeable player who is well versed in all Bridge techniques. But he must know the basics of Bridge and the know how of tipping the scales in one's favour.
Logic and common sense are the basic ingredients in a Bridge player's cruise to success. So all one can do at the Bridge table is to reduce the odds stacked against and come to grips with the real issue in no time. The one most important element in such a situation that can help a declarer is his timing of the play. Today's problem is one of pure timing. North south hold the following hand:
The bidding proceeds swiftly as under: The opening lead in this Little Slam bid by NS is the KC. As south take it from there. When you view the dummy, you know you are in the right contract with 11 top tricks. The only danger facing you is the heart suit which if it breaks normally 3-2 should pose no problem but if it is against the odds lying at 4-1 with any one defender, you are in danger of losing 2 heart tricks and going down in the otherwise power filled hand.
Here you put on your thinking cap and try to work out a possible line of play that can boost your chances of making this Little Slam even if the heart suit is breaking adversely for you. For this you must have the far sighted vision of looking beyond your nose. There is a possibility of the club suit giving you a chance to muster up the 12 tricks. But for that you need to make a proper sequence of play.
First things first: knocking out trumps and trying to gauge as much as you can about the possible distribution of the opponents' cards. Of course your apprehensions may be just illusory and the heart suit might actually divide 3-2 to cause no problem at all. So what do you do to set your sequence of play? Well you ruff the opening lead of KC and draw trumps in 3 rounds with west blanking out on the second round holding the singleton spade.
Although the odds favour west to have more hearts than east, one must not be over optimistic. So you cash the AK of hearts and surprisingly it is west who blanks out in hearts too holding 2 singletons in the major suits. Does that help you or sink your hopes? Well if you keep your nerves and a cool head, you will discover that there is a real chance of establishing a club trick in dummy. But Alas! there is an entry problem there.
So the only chance lies in the throw-in play where west can be end played. For that you need to eliminate diamonds and have an entry in dummy for the club. But how? Cash the king of diamonds and over take the QD with the AD first and then on QC thrown in to west you discard your jack of diamonds for the perfect end play. West is now a goner. If he takes the AC and plays a diamond or a club both your heart losers are wiped out. If he refuses to take the AC, the lead remains in dummy for your 10D winner to discard your heart loser. In Bridge sometimes it is 'Heads I win, Tails you lose'.
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North South
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542 AKQJ
8753 109
A 104 AK42
QJ9 KQJ
-
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N E S W
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P P 2C P
2D P 3S P
4S P 5C P
5D P 5H P
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5S P 6S All Pass
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