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Both tables in our match bid the touch and go slam, and both received the challenging lead of the ♣J. My counterpart at the other table won the Ace, finessed in Hearts, and ended up with an overtrick when the Spades were good for five tricks.
At our table, I decided that rather than bank everything on a Heart finesse, I should combine my chances in Hearts and Spades: if the King of Hearts doesn’t fall under the Ace, I can still get my Clubs away by taking a ruffing finesse in spades.
I won the Ace of Clubs, and tempted East with the ♥Q, but he played low without a flicker. I took the Ace, unblocked the ♠K, ruffed a Diamond in dummy and cashed the ♠A for a Club discard. The Queen came tumbling down, but East unfortunately still had the King of trumps. He ruffed the next Spade and cashed the ♣K for one down.
The fact that my team mates congratulated me on making a good play did not soften the blow of another 17 IMP swing in the minus column.
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Also by Janet de Botton
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