Imaginative defense

This submission comes from Deke, who was very impressed with the defense Mas gave him on this deal:

North  A K J 6 3  5  A 8 3  A 6 4 3
West  10 7 5 2  Q 7 6 3  Q 7  9 8 7	East  Q 9  A J 10 2  J 10 6 5  Q 10 5
South  8 4  K 9 8 4  K 9 4 2  K J 2

West	North	East	South
			Pass
Pass	1	Pass	1NT
Pass	2	Pass	2NT
Pass	3NT	All Pass

West led a heart to partner’s ace and declarer ducked the heart jack return. He took the third heart and went after spades, letting the 8 ride. Mas won this with the queen, not the 9! And Mas did NOT cash his heart trick. Instead he led the jack of diamonds.

Now Deke thought that West had started with five hearts and probably five spades. If this proved to be the case, he had West caught in a squeeze. By ducking the first diamond, he could rectify the count. Then he would win the next minor suit lead and run his four minor suit tricks.

West would have to make a discard from a good heart and the four spades he had to keep to prevent dummy from running the suit. Whatever he would do, declarer would have the rest for his game.

So declarer ducked the diamond to rectify the count! Now, with two hearts, a spade and a diamond already in the bank, Mas cashed his good heart to set the contract. What a wonderful false picture Mas painted.

Now watch Mickey37 turn three losers into two to bring home his five heart contract.

North  9 4 2  K 10 9 3 2  Q  A Q 5 2
West  K Q J 6  5  9 8 7 6 5 4 3  3	East  8 7 3  J 4  K J 10 2  J 10 6 4
South  A 10 5  A Q 8 7 6  A  K 9 8 7

West	North	East	South
Pass	Pass	Pass	1
Dbl	ReDbl	2	Pass
5	5	All Pass

Mickey ducked the opening spade lead but won the second spade. After drawing trumps he cashed his diamond ace and just one club. Then he got off lead with a spade to West.

West was helpless. Down to one spade and all diamonds, he was forced to give declarer a sluff-ruff. So declarer was able to get rid of his losing club and score up his game.