This hand was played in a knock out team event at a regional tournament in Iowa this past August. It was reported in the September edition of the International Bridge Press Association Bulletin by Larry Cohen of Boca Raton, FL and Alan Truscott of New York City. Before you read any further, place yourself in the West seat and try to find a line of play to defeat three no trump.
The opening lead was the eight of diamonds, won by the jack in dummy. The queen of clubs went to the king in the West hand. That player cashed the ace and king of diamonds after which declarer claimed the balance, making four for +630.
There doesn't appear to be a whole lot to this hand, but the auction was different at the companion table. South opened one diamond. North showed clubs and spades and South arrived at three no trump.
The player in the West seat was Eric Greco of North Wales, PA. He decided, based on the auction, that he should not lead his fourth best diamond and instead, led the king of diamonds. East, Geoff Hampson of Los Angeles, CA, played the duece. Declarer followed with the four. Even looking at all four hands, it is difficult to create a defense from this point that will defeat three no trump, but Greco managed.
He led the seven of diamonds at trick two. Declarer won the nine and crossed to the dummy with a spade. He passed the queen of clubs and Greco ducked in tempo. Declarer had to repeat the finesse. He couldn't take the chance that East has started with the king of clubs protected twice. The jack was passed and Greco produced the king.
Greco continued his inspired defense by leading the queen of spades. Not only did this play smother declarer's jack, but it also had the effect of removing declarer's entry to the dummy before he had a chance to unblock the ace of clubs.
Declarer countered by ducking the spade lead. Had Greco woodenly continued with another spade, declarer would pitch the ace of clubs on the spade winner and score the long clubs in dummy. But, having done everything right to this point, Greco was not going to fall from grace. He shifted to a heart and declarer was held to six tricks.
Down three was worth 300 points and the Greco team gained 14
International Match Points on this hand. The team of Eric Greco,
Geoff Hampson, Carolyn Lynch of Marblehead, MA, Dennis Dawson of
Sante Fe, NM, Larry Cohen of Boca Raton, FL, and David Berkowitz
of Old Tappen, NJ, won three knock out events and a Swiss team
event at this tournament, for a total of 115 gold master points
each.
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Bernstein is
a free-lance writer in Solon.