Jettison

Playing in a regional Swiss Teams against questionable opponents, I pick up

J843

KQ107

QJ84 Dealer, on my left, opens 1NT (15-17), and partner butts in with 2

. We play that 2

shows the majors, so I duly alert and explain. RHO passes, and I bid 2

. I know that game might be cold, but our style over strong notrumps is to bid often to fight for the part score and not worry too much about game. Even 2

could be too high. Everyone yawns and I get to play it.

As partner puts down the dummy, he says, ``I thought 2 shows four spades, five hearts, and 11-15 points. Aren't we playing Flannery?'' I can tell that he's just being silly, but he does put down a fine dummy, perhaps too much.

	AK65 Q10972 AJ3 6

	J843 3 KQ107 QJ84

The defense starts with the

K, shifts to the

K, and continues with a low diamond. Given that we have 23 points, it is possible that East has either the

Q, or both, but could have none of them. I have four diamond tricks, one club trick (the finesse must be working) and six trump tricks if I can cash everything. They, however, have the two Kings and a possible trump trick. Since nothing rates to break horribly, I start by winning the diamond in hand, perforce with the Ten since East plays the Eight. I take the club finesse, covered, and ruffed. If trumps are 3-2, I can claim ten tricks, so I cash the top spades. West drops the Queen on the second one. Do I have play for 11 tricks, now? I need to ruff another club in dummy and draw trumps. That takes two entries to hand. I have them, but it will block diamonds. That's of no matter if they break 3-3, and I do not see any other way to eleven tricks, so I shall proceed. Heart ruff, club ruff, diamond (all follow, phew) to the King, trump Jack, lefty pitching the

J. Hmmm. This leaves:

	--- Q10 A ---

	--- --- Q7 J

It looks like the 1NTer had two spades, four hearts, and either four clubs and three diamonds or three clubs and four diamonds. I have her either way! When I cash the

J, she nonchalantly pitches a diamond and gets ready to claim the last trick with the

A. Surprise! I jettison the

A from the table and claim myself with two good diamonds. Very pretty---even partner was impressed.