Hand of the week commencing Sunday 24th December 2006
West
leads ª3,
Playing mps’, how should South maximize his chances of making 11 tricks
?
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Dealer
North |
ª |
Q
J
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Love
All |
© |
Q
9 2 |
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¨ |
K
Q 10 |
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§ |
7
6 5 3 2 |
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N |
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ª |
K
8 7 3 2
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ª |
9
5 4 |
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© |
A
5 4 |
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W
E |
© |
K
8 7 6 |
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¨ |
9
8 7 4 |
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¨ |
J
5 3 2 |
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§ |
8 |
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§ |
10
4 |
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S |
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ª |
A
10 6 |
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© |
J
10 3 |
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¨ |
A
6 |
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§ |
A
K Q J 9 |
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W |
N |
E |
S |
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NO |
NO |
1§ |
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NO |
3§ |
NO |
3NT |
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NO |
NO |
NO |
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Once
West leads the ª
3 he must hold the missing King so taking the Spade finesse would, of course, be
futile. The secret is in the timing to set up a Heart trick and rely on West to
adhere to that little known rule “second hand plays low”. You have 10 tricks
in the bag, 2 spades, 3 Diamonds and 5 clubs. If you reveal all your assets to
the opposition too early they will get the right defence and East will win his
Heart King and play a Spade through you. To avoid this we need to put East to
the test at trick two. Having won the first trick with dummy’s Queen, lead a
Heart from dummy. Presumably East will accommodate your plan and play low. West
wins but cannot now profitably attack the Spades. You now have 11 tricks :- 2
Spades, 1 Heart, 3 Diamonds and 5 clubs. If East does play the King straight
away book him to be your next partner.