Today’s deal is from the Cavendish Invitational Pairs a few years ago. Top players from around the world are invited to play with big cash prizes for the high finishers. West was Antonio Sementa, one of the many fine players coming from Italy.
Sementa’s four-heart bid was twoway – it might make, or it might push the opponents too high. Good defense would have defeated four hearts by two tricks, but North didn’t know that. He soldiered on to four spades hoping for the best. Four spades is a poor contract, but with a 2-2 spade split, the ace of clubs onside, and the jack of diamonds dropping, it might make against less than perfect defense.
Sementa led the ace of hearts, seeing the two from partner. What next? It was tempting to lead a safe heart and not break either of the minor suits, but Sementa found the winning defense of cashing the ace of clubs and leading another club. Playing any other suit would allow declarer to play two rounds of trumps. A club shift then would allow declarer to win with the king and lead diamonds. The fall of the jack would allow the discard of a low club. This play by Sementa set up a second club trick for the defense before the trumps were drawn and Sementa cashed the jack of clubs when in with the king of spades. Well judged in the bidding and the play by Sementa.
Published – August 07, 2025 02:00 pm IST
