Bridge Spectaculars 3
The Genius of Belladonna
(Majorca, 1967)
Previous deal - Home - Next deal

Contract : 3NT by South       Lead : ♠6

  Dummy (N)
♠ -
♥ (8)
♦ J 9 8
♣ A
Tricks won
NS : 6
EW : 3
West (Baird)
♠ (A) J 7
♥ -

♣ K J
Next
East
♠ -
♥ 9
♦ -
♣ Q 10 9 (8)
  Declarer (Belladonna)
♠ Q (10)
♥ -
♦ -
♣ 5 4 3 (2)
 

Trick 9
The best West now can do is cash the ♠A, for all the other tricks will be won by the Declarer's side, 10 tricks in total.

Comment
Had Belladonna taken the first trick with the ♠10 he would also have made 3 tricks in that suit.
The really important thing Belladonna achieved with his deception play was to keep West's interest and focus on the ♠ suit, avoiding a switch to his very weak ♣ suit.
It also kept his two entries to Dummy (♣A and ♥10) intact until he needed them.

© 2002 Andrew Ward, from his book 'Bridge's Strangest Hands'
Published by Robson Books, 64 Brewery Rd. London N7 9NT