Chapter 10
Surviving Bad Splits
© 2006 - Marty Bergen
Page 109
Surviving Bad Splits
The
Expected 6-0 Split
On
some hands, identifying your key side suit is not enough – you
must also figure out how
to handle that suit.
Contract: 4
Lead:
 J |
|
North
 A
7 6 4
A
4 2
8 7 5 4
5 3 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
South
K
K
Q J 10 9
A 2
A J 7 6 4 |
|
|
West North
East South
--
-- --
1
3
3
Pass 4
All Pass
A
revealing auction! You had an excellent 2-suited hand – until
West showed a long, strong club suit with his weak jump-overcall
(WJO). Once you knew that clubs were stacked in West’s hand, you
forgot about slam and settled for 4.
Of course, if you had known about North’s two major-suit
aces, you would have bid 3NT and enjoyed your nine tricks off
the top.
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 110
Surviving Bad Splits
In 4,
you have exactly eight tricks outside of clubs: two spades, one
diamond and five hearts. Therefore, you need to win tricks with
two of your five clubs.
Because West is marked with six clubs for his WJO, East must be
void. The key to winning two club tricks is to make sure your
A
does not get ruffed, and to trump a club in dummy without
being overruffed. Obviously, you’ll need to ruff with dummy’s
A,
so you must save that card.
You
win the opening
J
lead, and
cash the
K
at
trick two. Now what?
Contract: 4
Lead:
J |
|
North
A
7 6 4
A
4 2
8 7 5 4
5 3 |
|
|
| |
West
10 8
7
3
J 10 9
K Q 10 9 8 2 |
|
East
Q
J 9 5 3 2
8
6 5
K Q 6 3
-- |
|
| |
|
South
K
K
Q J 10 9
A 2
A J 7 6 4 |
|
|
© 2006- Marty Bergen
Page 111
Surviving Bad Splits
The correct card to lead at trick three is a
small club! West will win his
8.
Many variations are possible at this point, but no matter what
West leads, you are in control. Suppose West shifts to a trump.
Win the
9
and duck a second club. West will win and lead another trump.
Here’s the position after you win the
10
in your hand:
Contract: 4
Lead:
J |
|
North
A
7 6
A
8 7 5
-- |
|
|
| |
West
10
--
10 9
K Q 10 2 |
|
East
Q
J 9
8
K Q3
-- |
|
| |
|
South
--
K
Q J
2
A J 7 |
|
|
Ruff
the
7
with dummy’s
A.
Cash the
A,
and discard one of your losers. Ruff a spade to your hand, and
draw East’s remaining trump. You’re finally ready to cash the
A.
Your last trump is your tenth trick.
By the
way: If West’s opening lead had been the
K,
whether or not East ruffed, you’d still make 4.
© 2006 - Marty Bergen
Chapter 11:
Sizing Up the Situation ................................. 117
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