Hand of the week commencing Sunday 18th February 2007
The ©Q is led how can you make this contract when the
bidding tells you everything is offside ?
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Dealer
South |
ª |
9
8 6 5 2
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Game
all |
© |
8
2 |
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¨ |
8
6 5 |
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§ |
A
K 6 |
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N |
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ª |
K
7
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ª |
4 |
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© |
Q
J 10 9 |
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W
E |
© |
7
6 5 4 3 |
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¨ |
A
Q J 2 |
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¨ |
10
9 |
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§ |
Q
10 7 |
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§ |
J
9 5 3 2 |
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S |
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ª |
A
Q J 10 3 |
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© |
A
K |
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¨ |
K
7 4 3 |
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§ |
8
4 |
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W |
N |
E |
S |
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1NT* |
NO |
2¨ |
2ª
1NT=15-17 Balanced |
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3© |
4ª |
NO |
NO |
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NO |
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The
bidding has shown that East can have no points at all so to lead up to the
Diamond holding would be futile on this hand. Initially declarer has 5 winners,
1 Spade, 2 Hearts and 2 clubs. Re the loser tally there is possible 3 Diamond
losers and 1 Spade if declarer leads Diamond from dummy. In order to make 10
tricks declarer will have to make 2 clubs, 2 Diamonds 1 Spade, 3 further
established diamonds and either creating a ruff and discard (so decreasing the
Diamond loser tally) or getting West to lead around to declarer’s Diamond
holding. With all this in mind, declarer wins the first trick and refuses the
Spade finesse. He cashes the Ace. He now sets about stripping the hand down.
Firstly he cashes a second Heart trick. He then cashes
2 clubs and ruffs a club. Now Hearts and Clubs have been eliminated from both
hands. Declarer now merely exits with a Spade to West’s lone King. Poor West
is now well and truly endplayed and has to either open a the Diamonds or give a
ruff and discard – 10 tricks made with everything offside.