Chico Sectional
Pairs Event with Sue Gregory

Dealer:  East
Vul:  None

Bidding:   E  S(me)  W  N(Sue)
           P   2C    -   3C   (shows 5 card suit, 2 of top 3 honors)
           -   4H    -   4NT  (intending to show a solid suit & no slam
           -   5H    -   6H   All Pass                          interest)

      
                     8  6  J  A
                     3     9  Q
                           7  7
Lead:  6 Diamonds          3  5      Question:  What card do you play
                              3                 from dummy to get there,
                                     either now or later so you can dump
                                     a spade on the ace of clubs?
                     9  A  A  -
                     6  K  K
                        Q  2
                        J
                        8
                        7
                        5
                        2

========================================================================

Answer:  On the actual hand, it didn't matter.  West was leading from
         Q 10 8 6, so any card you played will win trick 1.  But, assume
you guess wrong and whatever card you play from dummy gets covered by
East with the next higher spot (9 with the 10 or Jack with the Queen).
The really fascinating thing with this hand is that you still have a good
chance to make this hand.  Play your 8 hearts coming down to four cards.
What are the poor defenders going to discard down to?  Of course,
somebody should keep the 10 x of diamonds and throw away all their clubs,
but that is hard to do.  Probably, somebody will keep King doubleton or
third of clubs and spades.  Somebody else may keep their King doubleton
or third of spades and a club.  If you can determine the four card
ending, you can either exit a spade or cash diamonds or do the right
thing and make the hand.


What are the possible endings??  Dummy will keep    -  -  9  A
                                                          7  Q 

                               and you will have    9  -  K  -
                                                    6     2

If either opponent keeps  A - -  K , play a spade, pitching a diamond
                                 x   from dummy, finesse the queen on
                                 x   the force club return, cash the
                                     ace of clubs, and play a diamond
                                     to your king.

                      if  A -  x K , cash the diamond king before
                                 x   putting him in with a spade.  The
                                     reason you don't do this in the
                                     above case is that he might throw
                                     his ace of spades on the king of
                                     diamonds, ruining your endplay.

                      if  A - 10 - , play a spade and endplay him in
                               x     diamonds, getting an entry to the
                               x     board to cash the club ace.

                      if  ? - 10 ? , drop the diamond ten, play to the
                                     diamond 9, and play the club ace.

                      if  - - 10 K , play king and another diamond,
                               x x   winning two clubs at the end.

If they come down to  A - 10 x  and  K - x K , exit a spade throwing
                           x               x   the club queen from
                                               dummy.  If West exits a
                                               diamond, you have no
                                               diamond losers and your
                                               hand is good.  If he
                                               exits his club, you can
                                               throw your losing diamond
                                               on the club ace and get
                                               to your hand with the
                                               king of diamonds to cash
                                               your last now good spade.

                  if  A - 10 x  and  K - - K , exit a spade throwing the
                           x         x     x   small diamond from dummy.
                                               I don't think I can do it
                                               in this situation, but
                                               the defenders have to
                                               also do exactly the right
                                               thing.

If East comes down to  - - 10 x , play king and out a diamond, winning
                            x x   two clubs at the end.

                   if  A -  x K , cash the diamond king and exit a
                              x   spade, winning two clubs at the end.