Almost from the start the players in the Mixed teams had problems to solve:
Do you agree with North’s rebid? As the cards lie 3NT is unbeatable, but if West finds a diamond lead 4[S] should fail. West went with the [H]A – her partner had a red king – but it was the wrong shape! Declarer was in control and emerged with eleven tricks.
Kudos to the four West’s who found the diamond lead that defeated 4[S].
3NT was in no danger and declarer took ten tricks.
3NT was a huge favourite – only 17 of the 106 pairs preferred the spade game.
North cashed the [H]A and switched to a club. Declarer won with dummy’s ace, took the top spades pitching a club and cross-ruffed clubs and hearts.
North led the [H]A and continued with the [H]5. Declarer ruffed in dummy, cashed the[C]A and then cross-ruffed in clubs and hearts. She cashed the [S]A and had only to pitch the [H]Q on the [S]K to get home. Instead she ruffed a spade to hand and cashed the [D]A; North’s discard was a bitter pill to swallow, not least because it cost 16 IMPs.
The chances of a 4-0 diamond split are 4.783%, while a 5-1 spade break is 1.211
19 pairs reached 6[D] – but three declarers failed to get home.
