In the 5-card ending, West’s opening lead showed four so both defenders were known to have four and have played three, and the other eight unplayed cards were known to be four in each major.
The JS under the KS strongly suggested West’s last five cards had been 1-3-1-0, making East’s 3-1-1-0. That also meant that East would win the AS and be on lead.
If declarer knew which defender held the boss diamond, a 100% play was available. That is, if East held the top diamond (as was the actual case), cashing the AH before leading the second spade wins because East would have only spades after cashing the diamond. If West held the top diamond, however, then retaining the AH wins, as West will have only hearts left allowing declarer to win AH and cash last spade.
Apparently, declarer wrongly guessed West held the top diamond.
bobbywolffJuly 29th, 2022 at 1:48 pm
HI Jim2,
As always, not just well analyzed, but quickly to the point of decision.
And who could believe that after East had won the 10 of diamonds at trick one, then led back a diamond into the AQ while holding the king?
Especially so, since East could (perhaps should) have given up on partner holding the diamond jack and thus won the first diamond with the king (as long as he intended to return the suit, if otherwise).
East was later heard to murmur, “no scar here, just creating an impossible (or at least, implausible) ending for declarer to guess”. “Bravo to me” as if he had guessed the entire 52 card layout at trick one.
ou, ou, maybe he had or actually TOCM caused East to not see the diamond king migrate to him, too late to prevent the diamond continuation at trick two. “SPOOKS ALIVE”!
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In the 5-card ending, West’s opening lead showed four so both defenders were known to have four and have played three, and the other eight unplayed cards were known to be four in each major.
The JS under the KS strongly suggested West’s last five cards had been 1-3-1-0, making East’s 3-1-1-0. That also meant that East would win the AS and be on lead.
If declarer knew which defender held the boss diamond, a 100% play was available. That is, if East held the top diamond (as was the actual case), cashing the AH before leading the second spade wins because East would have only spades after cashing the diamond. If West held the top diamond, however, then retaining the AH wins, as West will have only hearts left allowing declarer to win AH and cash last spade.
Apparently, declarer wrongly guessed West held the top diamond.
HI Jim2,
As always, not just well analyzed, but quickly to the point of decision.
And who could believe that after East had won the 10 of diamonds at trick one, then led back a diamond into the AQ while holding the king?
Especially so, since East could (perhaps should) have given up on partner holding the diamond jack and thus won the first diamond with the king (as long as he intended to return the suit, if otherwise).
East was later heard to murmur, “no scar here, just creating an impossible (or at least, implausible) ending for declarer to guess”. “Bravo to me” as if he had guessed the entire 52 card layout at trick one.
ou, ou, maybe he had or actually TOCM caused East to not see the diamond king migrate to him, too late to prevent the diamond continuation at trick two. “SPOOKS ALIVE”!