Feb 12 2010
The Double Unblock
Lance had an awesome hand playing in the morning dupes.
♠ K ♥ A J 8 x ♦ Q J T x x x ♣ x x ♠ T x x x x x ♥ K Q 9 ♦ A K x ♣ x
East South West North 1♠ 2♣ Dbl Pass 2♥ Pass 4♥ Pass Pass Pass
After his partner made the negative double, Lance chose to rebid 2♥, since he had a bad spade suit and he could take the club tap in his hand in a heart contract. When partner raised to game, he had to handle this 4-3 fit.
Two rounds of clubs were led, and Lance ruffed in his hand with the heart nine. He had a small problem regarding entries (sometimes we call them “over here’s” and “over there’s”). But he saw the solution:
He cashed the King and Queen of hearts, then led a low diamond to the Queen. When this was not ruffed, he played the Ace and Jack of hearts, discarding the Ace-King of diamonds! This play was necessary when the hearts were 4-2. In the end he made eleven tricks, losing only the first trick and the last.