Hand of the week commencing
Sunday 11th June 2006
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|
Dealer
East |
ª |
A K Q J 8
2
|
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|
|
Both
Vul |
© |
8
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
7
5 3 |
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|
|
§ |
A
8 |
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|
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|
N |
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|
ª |
9
7 6 5 4
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|
|
ª |
10
3 |
|
© |
Q
J 4 3 |
|
W
E |
© |
K
10 9 7 6 |
|
¨ |
6
3 |
|
|
¨ |
Q
J 9 |
|
§ |
3
|
|
|
§ |
6
5 4 |
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|
|
S |
|
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|
|
ª |
|
|
|
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|
© |
A
2 |
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|
¨ |
A
K 6 2 |
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|
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|
|
§ |
K
Q J 10 9 7 2 |
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|
|
N |
E |
S |
W |
4NT = RKC Blackwood |
|
|
NO |
1§ |
NO |
5§= 3 or 0
5¨
asks for Queen of trumps |
|
2ª |
NO |
3§ |
NO |
6¨ = confirms queen of trump plus ¨K |
|
4NT* |
NO |
5§** |
NO |
|
|
5¨*** |
NO |
6¨ |
NO |
|
|
7§ |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
The
secret of this hand is that if you merely draw trumps and they break badly, when
you go to play off the winning Spades (and that suit break badly too) East will
ruff the third round of Spades and then you will be a trick short at the 11th
hour.
Since
you have 14 tricks on top and you are hoping the Spades are no worse than 43 it
cannot hurt to play off winning Spades from the top. After winning first trick
enter dummy with the §8
, and play off winning Spades from the top (3 rounds is enough). If the Spades
break 43 you win but if they do not break well, as is the case here the player
with 3 trumps (they broke badly too) and 2 Spades is East. You can now overruff
East and merely re-enter dummy with the carefully preserved high club and claim
your contract by way of
3 Spades, 1 Heart, 2 Diamonds and 7 clubs.