Whirlwind

Hi all

May the gods you are loyal to grant you the success you deserve for 2010.

It has been a whirlwind of attention, questions, Dutch treats and jet lag. Man, if I weren’t enjoying myself so much I would need a holiday after this. This deal is from a pairs night at Star. I was sitting West and heard the following auction.

West

K98432

Q3

8

9762

West

North

East

South

 

1

pass

2 1

pass

2 2

pass

2NT

pass

3NT

a.p.

 

 

1. Inverted
2. Stopper

I led my 5th and dummy revealed a promising stiff .

North Dealer

- Vul

North

6

KJ92

KJ763

KQJ

West

K98432

Q3

8

9762

 

Partner Erik S. wins the Ace of and returns the Jack via the Queen for my … 2. I decided to duck to keep communications intact. Basically the analysis comes down to whether South holds Queen – doubleton, or Queen – third. The latter seemed more likely in my opinion.

Declarer wrapped up ten tricks easily.

North Dealer

- Vul

North

6

KJ92

KJ763

KQJ

West

K98432

Q3

8

9762

East

AJT7

AT54

T52

54

South

Q5

876

AQ94

AT83

 

For West it’s impossible to see from what holding East has returned the Jack. Maybe you can toy around with “change in tempo”-tactics, unfortunately I’m a too ethical player to adapt to such practices. In a teams match East can offer a helping hand in the defense. Seeing the danger that West might duck the Jack return, East can cash the Ace of first before firing back the Jack, that should stir West’s cup of coffee in the right direction.