SURE-TRICK PLAY

North-South vulnerable, North deals

Opening lead: Jack of ♣

Mike Cornell, of New Zealand, is a World Champion. He won the World Open Pairs five years ago. Cornell was South in today’s deal.

Cornell and his partner were playing a 12-14 one no-trump range. North’s one no-trump rebid showed 15-17, though it seems to us a spade raise would be more appropriate. Cornell made a quantitative raise to four no-trump and his partner accepted the invitation, finally showing his spade fit, giving Cornell a choice. Cornell knew his partner had a balanced hand, but he chose to play in spades rather than no-trump. A suit contract has some advantages not available in a no-trump contract. This deal is a case in point.

Cornell won the opening club lead with dummy’s king and made the technically correct play in spades. This was to play West for the queen. Why? Because he could pick up queen-nine, small, small in the West hand, but not in the East hand. A spade to the ace and a spade to the jack worked just fine. Cornell drew the last trump and cashed the ace and queen of clubs. He then cashed the ace and king of hearts before exiting with the jack of hearts. East won with the queen and had to lead a diamond or yield a ruff-sluff. 12 tricks either way. Nicely played.

Note that this sure-trick play would not have been available in a no-trump contract.