In one way the hand would be easier if North had weaker clubs (e.g. A10xxxx) when the duck is more obvious., yet there is a potential trap here.
Suppose EW have CKQJ10 as their 4 cards. South ducks the first club after taking T1. He then plays another club and has no problems ducking if West shows out. If West follows, though, then South has to hope C are 2-2 or he is going off as West gets in and cashes the spades. So he has to play the CA – but has he unblocked the 9 in the first 2 rounds of the suit?
Regards,
Iain
Bobby WolffOctober 5th, 2022 at 12:56 pm
Hi Iain,
It turns out that only an original heart lead may jeopardize the final contract, once the play begins enabling declarer a winning duck of the first two clubs
However (and in retrospect) it seems kind of difficult for the NS hands to arrange a transfer into 2 clubs once South has opened 1NT.
Perhaps a phantom suit (such as graphalites) may be allowed in order to do so, but it is doubtful that the opponents will consent to it.
IOW. the thought of doing so is on target, but the ability to get it done is another story and I apologize for its mention.
Otherwise, except for that sad shooting blunder, Mrs. Lincoln, your evening went fine.
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Hi Bobby,
In one way the hand would be easier if North had weaker clubs (e.g. A10xxxx) when the duck is more obvious., yet there is a potential trap here.
Suppose EW have CKQJ10 as their 4 cards. South ducks the first club after taking T1. He then plays another club and has no problems ducking if West shows out. If West follows, though, then South has to hope C are 2-2 or he is going off as West gets in and cashes the spades. So he has to play the CA – but has he unblocked the 9 in the first 2 rounds of the suit?
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
It turns out that only an original heart lead may jeopardize the final contract, once the play begins enabling declarer a winning duck of the first two clubs
However (and in retrospect) it seems kind of difficult for the NS hands to arrange a transfer into 2 clubs once South has opened 1NT.
Perhaps a phantom suit (such as graphalites) may be allowed in order to do so, but it is doubtful that the opponents will consent to it.
IOW. the thought of doing so is on target, but the ability to get it done is another story and I apologize for its mention.
Otherwise, except for that sad shooting blunder, Mrs. Lincoln, your evening went fine.