The Zero Percent Solution, Part 2

Both Vul
IMPs
Dealer: East
Lead: K

	nikkos J 10 8 7 6 J 9 5 10 9 8 4 3
brando Q 9 2 Q 4 4 3 2 A K Q 7 6		Maestro A 5 4 3 10 7 A Q J 8 6 J 5
	lubac K A K 8 6 3 2 K 7 5 10 9 2

West Rdbl 3 3 Pass

North Pass Pass Pass Pass

East 1NT 2 3 4

South Dbl Pass Pass Pass

 

1NT was weak, lubac’s double was DONT, showing a one-suited hand, and two spades was…well, never mind what two spades was. Four diamonds, however, is unbeatable on the layout, presuming the planets are in normal alignment. South leads out two top hearts and, stuck with the stiff spade K, switches to clubs, as good as anything. Gee wins the club in hand, plays the trump A, and plays a small trump! This wins whenever the K is doubleton. Unfortunately, the diamond Q or J also wins whenever the K is doubleton, plus all those other layouts when the K is third. “Darn,” said Gerard when the diamond 10 held the trick, “but with only one entry it was the only logical play I think.” “Was that a misclick?” his partner asked. “A misclick is one thing but intentionally is…” He decided not to finish the sentence.

Moral: The whole is greater than the part.