Finals: Jack versus WBridge5

Board 9 Vul: E-W Dealer: N WEST	NORTH K 9 4 2 K 10 9 8 4 8 6 3 2	EAST
A J 10 7 2 A 9 3 3 A Q 7 5	SOUTH	5 K 8 7 6 5 Q J 6 5 2 K 9
	Q 8 6 4 3 Q J 10 A 7 J 10 4

WEST	NORTH	EAST	SOUTH
Jack	Wbridge5	Jack	Wbridge5
	Pass	Pass	Pass
1	Pass	1NT	Pass
2	Pass	2	Pass
4	All Pass

Opening lead: Q

WBridge5 (South) found the only lead to possibly defeat 4, a trump. With any other lead East has 10 tricks, 2 diamond ruffs, 4 hearts, 3 clubs and a spade. Jack (East) timed the play just right. A diamond to the J and A; a heart return by South to East’s K; K; A; spade ruff; A; Q pitching a diamond; spade ruff; and diamond ruff. Now 12 of South’s cards are known. With 3 cards to play, South is known to have 2 spades and either a club, a diamond or a heart. While a spade ruff looks straight forward, computers don’t understand straight forward in the same way that humans do. Jack equally considers a club continuation straight forward since it also guarantees ten tricks. If South’s 13^th card is a club or diamond then the club ruff succeeds; if it is a heart then after the over-ruff, South must concede a spade to West.

Result: 4 made 4, +620 EW

At the other table South (Jack) led the A against Wbridge5’s 4, and the contract made easily.