Flexible Thinking

Flexible thinking is the ability to know when to deviate from the standard or routine play. A case in point is the following recent hand at IMPs:


Dealer: N
Vul: None
North
♠ 764
♥ KQ74
♦ 54
♣ AK75
West
♠ Q9
♥ 83
♦ AK763
♣ J943
East
♠ KJ108
♥ 962
♦ 92
♣ Q1086
South
♠ A532
♥ AJ105
♦ QJ108
♣ 2


With no interference, the opponents, N/S, found their 4-4 heart fit and arrived at a very reasonable 4 contract. Partner, on lead as West, started with the K (from AK) to which I happily contributed the 9, anticipating the ‘routine’ diamond ruff at trick 3 and booking the contract, anticipating the setting trick later in the play. Partner hesitated…and much to my (silent) annoyance, played Q at trick two!?

Only after the hand was over and set a trick, did I see that partner realized that if she continued with the A and a third for me to ruff, declarer would be able to pitch a losing spade on dummy on the established diamond in his hand, allowing any remaining losing spades in the hand to be ruffed on dummy, making the contract. With that in mind, she abandoned the ‘routine’ play and played a spade at trick two to set up two spade tricks for the defense while still retaining control in diamonds. The contract can not be made even if declarer ruffs high at trick 3 to avoid the diamond ruff.

After the round, away from the opponents, I commended partner for her nice defense, silently wondering if I would have been up to abandoning the ‘routine’ defense.

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