The Story of the nine of diamonds

I will never write yet another version of right through the pack.  But yesterday playing with a competent partner my nine of diamonds had a story to tell.  It was really the story of a not so perfect declarer and a very good defense by partner but the role of the 9 gave me a chuckle.

I was East playing with a friend who is a very good player.  I held this hand.

East   976  J763  93  J1098

 

 

West	North	East	South
			1
3	3	pass	3NT
pass	4NT	pass	5
pass	6NT

 

The opening lead was the 10 and this dummy was spread.

	North AK5 AKQ94 86 K76
		East 976  J763  93  J1098

 

I will start by saying that you are going to defeat 6NT, it will turn out to be about undertricks.  Declarer played off four rounds of spades throwing dummy’s small diamond and my thought process was a bit too simple.  It went along the lines of got to hold clubs and hearts.  On the fourth spade partner threw the 2 and it was my turn.  I knew I was going to throw a diamond but it didn’t occur to me to think about which one.  Playing upside carding I threw the 9 to say … no help here.  Well actually I did have some help but I just threw it.  Doh!  Partner quite likely held the a good piece of the diamond suit higher than the 9 and certainly held a diamond tenance.  The 9 was to valuable to throw.  Here is the whole deal. 

	North AK5 AKQ94 86 K76
West 1076 102 KJ10752 Q4		East   976  J763  93  J1098
	South QJ83 85 AQ4 A532

Declarer tried hearts and when they didn’t break declarer  might have conceded a heart trick for down one.  No squeeze is possible and the diamond finesse obviously is not working.  One slim hope is that clubs are three-three and somehow West gets on lead after the third club and is endplayed.  Declarer played the K but West was not going to be endplayed (it wasn’t going to matter here but South might have had five clubs).  She threw the Q under the K.  Declarer was now committed and played a club to the A hoping that West had QJ10.  West followed low to the club and declarer’s goose was mightily cooked.  In desperation he played a diamond towards dummy to reduce the carnage.  Here was the ending:

	North -  94 8 7
West – – KJ107 –		East -   J  3  98
	South   –   – AQ4 5

 

My partner made the fine playing of ducking the diamond (she was not going to get endplayed) and the 8 won the trick.  I however claimed the rest.  But had I kept the 9 I would have had all of them. 

I know that declarer may not have played the deal perfectly, but my partner made several fine plays, first not leading a diamond.  The hand can be made on a diamond lead just by conceding a heart.  Then by dumping the Q and  finally by ducking the diamond.

Well done partner.  Sorry about the 9.