Black Breaks

By: Larry Cohen

Black Breaks

This deal was (mis)played in the 2017 Team Trials by a former world champion. Try your luck with his South cards:

AK86
♥ J52
♦ --
♣ AKJ1052

At unfavorable vulnerability, he opened the bidding 1 in second seat. LHO overcalled 1 and partner made a negative double (promising both majors). RHO made a constructive diamond raise and opener jumped to 4. Everyone passed and the A was led:

Q1072
♥ Q764
♦ K102
♣ 43
AK86
♥ J52
♦ --
♣ AKJ1052

The A was led, ruffed by declarer. He played the AK (all following) and then a spade to the queen (RHO throwing a diamond). Now what?

A club was led to the jack and the finesse won. If you try the A next, you are down. Here is the Real deal:

Vul:North-South
Dlr: East
Q1072
♥ Q764
♦ K102
♣ 43
543
♥ K1098
♦ AQ985
♣ 8
J9
♥ A3
♦ J7643
♣ Q976
AK86
♥ J52
♦ --
♣ AKJ1052

After the A ruffed, declarer drew trumps. When a club to the jack held and the A revealed the 4-1 break, there was no recovery. Remember that declarer ruffed at trick one, so he was out of trumps.

The winning solution was unusual. After the J won, there was a 100% way to make the contract (assuming LHO didn't sneakily duck the offside Q). Declarer is left in this position:

Vul:North-South
Dlr: East
10
♥ Q764
♦ K10
♣ 4
--
♥ K1098
♦ Q985
♣
--
♥ A3
♦ J76
♣ Q97
--
♥ J52
♦ --
♣ AK1052

Declarer wants to take another club finesse, but is stuck in hand. Laying down the A (as we've seen) fails if clubs are 4-1. Leading hearts could lead to the loss of 4 hearts tricks, but not if done properly. Leading a low heart to the queen and East's ace costs the loss of 4 heart tricks (East wins the ace and returns a heart). The sure way not to lose 4 heart tricks is, in the diagrammed position, to play a low heart from both hands (the J also will do, but it isn't as obvious). Whatever the opponents do (even if they can take 3 heart tricks), they then have to give you access to a repeat club finesse and 10 tricks. On the actual layout, you'd end up with 11.