Hand of the week commencing Sunday 17th September 2006
Playing Teams West leads 10ª
is led plan the play.
|
|
Dealer
North |
ª |
A
J 4 2
|
|
|
|
|
Both
Vul |
© |
A
5 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
A
K Q 9 4 |
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
Q |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N |
|
|
|
ª |
10
8
|
|
|
ª |
Q
9 6 3 |
|
© |
K
J 9 |
|
W
E |
© |
Q
10 8 6 2 |
|
¨ |
J
6 2 |
|
|
¨ |
10
8 |
|
§ |
A
J 9 6 5 |
|
|
§ |
8
3 |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
ª |
K
7 5 |
|
|
|
|
|
© |
7
3 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
7
5 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
K
10 7 4 2 |
|
|
|
N |
E |
S |
W |
|
1¨ |
NO |
1NT |
NO |
|
3NT |
NO |
NO |
NO |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
|
The
contract is relatively simple but if you play too quickly at trick one you could
be up against the wall.
Counting
your winners you have 2 Spades, 1 Heart, 3 Diamonds. You need 3 more . As long
as the Diamonds break 32 (68% chance) you have two more . If you knock out Club
ace with dummy’s Queen then you will have 9 in the bag.
What
could the problem be then ? Some players in their haste will try dummy’s Queen
at trick one and cover East’s Queen with the king. Now your only entry back to
the closed hand has gone. If the opponents refuse to play Clubs you will only
make 8 tricks.
Since
you need to only dislodge the Club Ace and need just one trick from the Clubs
win the first trick with dummy’s Ace refusing the tempting Spade finesse and
immediately play a club. Now with the diamonds breaking you have 9 tricks. If
you tried the Jack from dummy at trick one and it is covered by East’s Queen
you cannot afford to hold it up in case East switches to Hearts !!