Dummy’s ♠Q won the opening lead
and Declarer could see that it was plain sailing to at least nine tricks, his
minimum haul being two Spades, four Hearts, two Diamonds and a Club. Never one
to turn up his nose at an overtrick or two, Declarer ran the
♥Q
at Trick 2. It seemed like good news when that finesse won, but in fact
Declarer had just bungled the contract. He crossed to the
♥A
and, when the King did not fall he needed two entries to the board, one to knock
out the ♥K,
the other to enjoy the established Hearts. Alas, he had only one such entry,
and was destined for an ignominious down two. What went wrong?
►
Yes, the winning line was simple
enough, Declarer must play the
♥A
at Trick 2, then a low Heart to the board.
Now, let’s replay the hand with
the Heart King and Eight exchanged between the E-W hands. Let’s say that, as
before, Declarer goofs mightily by running the
♥Q
at Trick 2. West must duck the trick! If West makes the mistake of grabbing
his King then Declarer’s misplay will go unpunished.
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