Hand of the week commencing
Sunday 9th April 2006
|
|
Dealer
South |
ª |
K
10 5 4
|
|
|
|
|
Both
Vulnerable |
© |
9
7 6 4 |
|
|
|
|
Lead
ª6 |
¨ |
Q
9 |
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
Q
J 9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N |
|
|
|
ª |
Q
7 6
|
|
|
ª |
J
9 3
|
|
© |
J
10 8 5 2
|
|
W
E |
© |
A
K |
|
¨ |
A
7 6 |
|
|
¨ |
J
4 3 2 |
|
§ |
5
2 |
|
|
§ |
K
8 6 3 |
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
ª |
A
8 2
|
|
|
|
|
|
© |
Q 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
¨ |
K
10 8 5
|
|
|
|
|
|
§ |
A
10 7 4 |
|
|
|
N |
E |
S |
W |
|
|
|
1§ |
NO |
|
1© |
NO |
1NT |
NO |
|
NO |
NO |
|
|
North South are playing strong No Trump so after South rebids 1NT showing 12-14 how does he make his 1NT contract after ª6 lead (if the club finesse is working) ?
At
trick 1 declarer should be pleased that he has escaped from a Heart lead. In
order to make this contract he needs to win the race for 7 tricks. Initially he
has 2 Spades and 1 Club. After winning the first trick in dummy he takes the
club finesse which works. Now declarer has 6 tricks in the bag. Where must the 7th
one come from. Do you establish a Diamond or do you go for the long Spades.
If you merely play a High
Diamond conceding one Diamond trick then this will be your 7th trick.
If the opponents take their Ace and switch to Hearts, at the worst they can cash
5 tricks, plus the Diamond Ace but you are now Home. If you go for the extra
trick, as my formidable opponent did, from the Spade suit you now go off as the
defence then realizes 1 Spade, 1
Diamond and 5 Hearts.