The Tollemache Qualifier is an intense, gruelling event for players and TDs. I had three appeals, relating to Law 46 B (different intention is incontrovertible), Law 21 B (misinformation / "fielded misexplanation") and Law 40 B (illegal agreement).
One hand was free from ruling but was a curious lead problem; in particular the defence have to finesse the ten in dummy's A10xxx to defeat 6NT. (As I discovered on the train home, trying to make sense of the double dummy analysis on the hand records.)
| Board 22 | K 8 7 5 3 | |
| (Rotated) | 8 7 | |
| 4 | ||
| A 10 5 4 2 | ||
| J 3 | Q 6 2 | |
| Q 6 5 3 2 | 10 9 4 | |
| 7 3 2 | 10 6 5 | |
| K 8 7 | Q J 9 3 | |
| A 10 9 | ||
| A K J | ||
| A K Q J 9 8 | ||
| 6 |
Some played in 6D or 6S and some tried a grand slam. You always lead a trump against grand slams? A trump is the only lead to defeat 7D but a trump is the only lead to let through 7S.
According to the double dummy analysis, South can't make 6NT but North can. The defence must lead clubs otherwise declarer can duck a spade to establish his twelth trick. North ducks the club and the defence must continue clubs, otherwise declarer can reach this position.
| K 8 7 | ||
| - | ||
| - | ||
| A 10 | ||
| J 3 | Q 6 2 | |
| Q | - | |
| - | - | |
| K 8 | J 9 | |
| A 10 9 | ||
| J | ||
| 8 | ||
| - |
The D8 executes a double guard squeeze, North discarding another spade.
If East leads a club it must be an honour and whether he leads the other honour or a small club at trick two, the club guard is isolated; whichever of East or West retains a club honour is caught in a simple squeeze. South throws HJ on a small club return and throws a spade on a second club honour from East.
But if South is declarer, West must lead a small club, finessing C10. East takes the finesse and can lead CQ at trick two: both defenders are able to retain a high club. This destroys the timing for the double sequeeze, as South is prematurely sequeezed out of one of his major menaces.
Easy game!
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