The Marked Singleton King

Lance played this hand during the first session of the 2-session regional Mixed Pairs event in San Diego.  We are having a pretty good game.  The Mixed Pairs is a funny event - no one seems very happy.  We ran into a lot of people yelling at each other.  I guess that’s what happens when you force men and women to play together.

We perpetrate the following auction, South as dealer:

       West   North   East   South
                             Pass
       Pass   1♣     Pass   1NT
       Pass   2♥     Pass   3NT

I’m honestly not quite sure what propelled me to reverse with this hand - upon reflection it’s not that great, and partner is limited to 5-8 points.  But i do, and partner has a max, and we get to a good spot.  The lead is the heart three, and Lance buys:

                ♠ A 8
                ♥ A Q T 9
                ♦ Q 4
                ♣ A J 8 4 3
==
                ♠ Q 9 7
                ♥ 7 6 5
                ♦ K J T 8
                ♣ Q 9 2

Lance finessed the heart 9, losing to the Jack.  The spade three came back, lance playing low, Leftie playing the Jack, and Lance won the Ace.

There are all sorts of tricks that can be developed on this hand.  If the heart King is on, there are three hearts.  If the spade Ten is on, there are two spades.  There are three diamonds.  And the clubs are an obvious possibility as well.

Lance plays the diamond Queen to go ahead and set up the diamonds.  Leftie wins the Ace immediately.  He cashes the spade King (Fightie following with the deuce) and exits with the spade four to Lance’s Queen.  From this play, it appears Rightie had five spades.

Lance now finessed the heart Ten successfully, Rightie following with the deuce.  Now a diamond to hand, both following.  Lance cashed two more diamonds, noting Leftie’s club and heart discards on the diamonds.  Rightie has five diamonds along with her five spades.  She is also known to have exactly two hearts, so she is 5251 shape.  Leftie, West, has shown up the King-Jack of spades, the heart King and the diamond Ace and did not open the bidding.  Ergo, Rightie’s singleton club must be the King!

Lance confidently called for the Ace of clubs, and it is so.  We’ve probably never seen a more obvious dry King.  Well done.

We ended up second overall in the event after two sessions, for a strong showing (finally) after misfiring for a week.

                ♠ A 8
                ♥ A Q T 9
                ♦ Q 4
                ♣ A J 8 4 3
♠ K J 4                        ♠ T 6 5 3 2
♥ K 8 4 3                      ♥ J 2
♦ A 3                          ♦ 9 7 6 5 2
♣ T 7 6 5                      ♣ K

                ♠ Q 9 7
                ♥ 7 6 5
                ♦ K J T 8
                ♣ Q 9 2