| Bd: IX-13 |
(Akihiko Yamada) |
| Dlr: North |
 K109 |
| Vul: Both |
 10984 |
|
 K54 |
|
 AK7 |
| West |
 |
East |
|
AQJ862 |
5 |
|
2 |
KJ76 |
|
Q62 |
109873 |
|
QJ2 |
1063 |
|
(Kyoko Ohno) |
|
743 |
|
AQ53 |
|
AJ |
|
9854 |
|
|
LOW LOW LOWER
This deal from ROUND NINE is responsible for one of the great stories of
the NEC CUP. Akihiko Yamada declared 3NT from the North side after starting
with a weak notrump, West remaining silent. East led the 10,
jack, queen, king. Akihiko ran the 8,
but East covered the 9
to maintain a tenace. The Q
held and on a low spade from dummy, West rose with the ace to return the
6, East following with
the nine when Akihiko contributed the five. Watch closely now. When Akihiko
led a spade to the jack and king, East discarded a club to keep his winners
and heart guard. Now Akihiko cashed the AK
and led the 4. Note
that we did not say that he "exited'' with the 4.
East realized that if he won the diamond, he would have to lead a heart
from his king into declarer's split tenace at trick twelve, so he followed
to the 4 with the three.
Dummy threw a club and West's 2
completed one of the most unusual tricks you could ever hope to see. The
4 was declarer's ninth
trick!
It would be wonderful if this produced a game swing, but North/South were
permitted to make 4
at the other table, so Yamada-san will have to be content with a virtuous
piece of declarer play and his name in lights.
|