Hand of the week commencing Sunday 4th February 2007
West
leads the¨7
, You play the Ace from dummy which is won by East, who fires back the Jack.
a) playing IMPS
how would you play the
hand ?
b) playing MP’s how would you play it ?
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ª |
AK Q 8 6 5
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Love
All |
© |
A
7 3
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Dealer
West |
¨ |
K
6 |
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§ |
J
10 |
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N |
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ª |
9
4 2
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ª |
J
10 7 |
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© |
K
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W
E |
© |
Q
8 5 2 |
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¨ |
10
8 7 4 3 |
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¨ |
A
J 2 |
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§ |
8
7 6 4 |
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§ |
Q
3 2 |
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S |
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ª |
3 |
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© |
J
10 9 6 4 |
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¨ |
Q
9 5 |
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§ |
AK
9 5 |
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W |
N |
E |
S |
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1ª |
NO |
1NT |
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NO |
3NT |
NO |
NO |
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NO |
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a)
When
you play IMPS safety is of the utmost importance. On this hand you can afford 4
losers and still get home. If the Diamonds are no worse than 5:3 and the Heart
honours are divided you can now guarantee 9 tricks by ducking the second round
of Diamonds. You take the third round of Diamonds with your Queen and then test
the Hearts first running the Jack. When West plays the King you win the ace and
play another Heart back towards hand. You are now guaranteed
3 Spades, 3 Hearts, 1 Diamond and 2 Clubs. (if the Hearts break
or if East has the remaining 4)
b)
When you play MP’s now it
is imperative to maximize your tricks and sometimes throw caution to the wind.
On this hand, if the Spades are breaking favorably and the Club finesse works
then you can make a lot of tricks. In fact you can make up to 12 tricks.
Therefore you must take your chances and not hold up the second trick. You take
the second trick and immediately test the Spades. You now have 7 tricks in the
bag (1 Diamond and 6 Spades). You have three more (2 clubs and a Heart in
waiting) to come. If you want to make more tricks than all the other North
South’s you must take your last risk and run the Club Jack to try for the
overtrick. (NB If West wants to hold you to 11 tricks then he must cover the
first club then the suit will be blocked.) Praise West if he finds this play.