Jimmy Sez #17

Monday afternoon club games sometime bring curious results on what seem to be gimme hands. 

Look at the hand below and see how you would play it with any lead.  We got a club lead at a slam in clubs which actually picked up the trump queen.  Partner still went off one.  Why hadn’t partner made what to me was the obvious play?  He forgot to count his tricks.

                                                S- A K 10 8 7 2

                                                H- A

                                                D- A 4 2

                   S- Q 9 6 3           C- 8 7 6                         S- 5 4

                   H- K 10 8 4                                                H- J 9 7 3

                   D- K 9 6                                                     D- J 8 5 3

                   C- 9 2                   S- J                               C- Q 5 4

                                                H- Q 6 5 3

D- Q 9 4

C- A K J 10 3

Bidding                       

W          N       E               S                

Pass     1S     Pass     2C

Pass     3S     Pass     3NT

Pass     4C     Pass     4H

Pass     6C     Pass     Pass

Pass

If you count your tricks after the club lead it is obvious if you lose one spade you have 5 spades 5 clubs 1 diamond and 1 heart.  If the spade J holds, go to the heart ace and ruff a small spade.  When this works ruff a heart then draw the remaining trumps and enter dummy with the diamond ace and claim.  If the spade loses you will only make six...  Play the hand with any other lead.  If the club queen is on side and clubs break 3-2 the small slam is odds on.

Rule: Count your tricks or losers before you play to the second trick