[ArtK78]

I was watching the sixth segment of the Bathurst-Wolfson match yesterday. There were some interesting hands, as well as some remarkable results (see board 88).

One hand that I found remarkable went without comment by the commentators viewing the table where Justin was sitting East. This was board 85:

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I believe this was the auction at Justin's table, and it is likely that it was duplicated at the other table. In any case, the contract and result were the same at both tables - 2♥ by W down 2!

The opening lead was the ♣K at both tables. It seems to me that declarer has 8 obvious tricks (assuming a reasonable heart division) if he can pull trump and keep control of the hand - a club, a diamond, a spade and 5 trump. So, declarer should win trick one and play a trump. If North takes the trick, he can cash a club and give his partner a club ruff, but declarer is in control and always emerges with 8 tricks. If North holds off, declarer has many lines that all lead to success. The most obvious is ♦A followed by ♦Q, intending to throw away a black suit loser if not covered.

Alternatively, declarer could attempt to ruff two diamonds in hand and score the same 8 tricks.

At the tables, both declarers ducked trick one. Now the defense was in control. North switched to the ♠J and declarer could not score the eight tricks he started with.

Is there something I am missing here, or was the duck at trick 1 a clear error by both declarers?

[rhm]

I think your analysis is spot on.
Ducking the ♣K is a typical error of an advanced player.
It is hard to construct a layout where ducking would gain here, but the gains from ducking to cut defenders line of communications while keeping your communication lines open are often hard to foresee.
So good players often duck out of habit.

Rainer Herrmann

[cherdano]

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If you take the ace and follow your suggested line of play (♥Q ducked, ♦A, ♦Q pitching a club), you can only make if you find the play of going up with the ♠Q when North gets in with a club and leads a spade - otherwise, NS can set up a trump promotion. Ducking makes things much easier.
(Mostly ducking gains since South has to get in to set up a club trick, and if they don't, declarer can set up a diamond trick while he still he has an entry to dummy.)

[ArtK78]

cherdano, on 2011-May-16, 07:43, said:

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If you take the ace and follow your suggested line of play (♥Q ducked, ♦A, ♦Q pitching a club), you can only make if you find the play of going up with the ♠Q when North gets in with a club and leads a spade - otherwise, NS can set up a trump promotion. Ducking makes things much easier.
(Mostly ducking gains since South has to get in to set up a club trick, and if they don't, declarer can set up a diamond trick while he still he has an entry to dummy.)

Even on your construction, EW have 8 tricks on the suggested line - one club, 2 diamonds, a spade and 4 hearts.

If South covers the ♦Q declarer ruffs and plays a top heart. North wins and plays a spade to the 10 and declarer's K. Declarer then pulls trump and has 8 tricks.