1. 

   if you wish to search this website please click here                                                                           

    

Updated  16th August 2026

IINDEX  to all pages on this website

 
  •  
 

 

 
  •  
 
 
Hand of the week

Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday 10th September 2023

Playing Match Point pairs without putting your contract into jeopardy how would you play this hand in 5 after the J is led?

 

If you would like to play this hand out then click here

 

Dealer: West Vuln: E/W

 
9
Q 8
8 7 6 2
Q 10 9 8 4 3
 
K 8 3 2
A 7 5 4 3
4 3
J 6
  N  
W   E
 
  S  
7 6 4
J 10 2
Q 5
A K 7 5 2
 
A Q J 10 5
K 9 6
A K J 10 9
-
 
W N E S
Pass Pass 1 1
2 Pass Pass 4
Pass 5 End  

After a somewhat pensive start to the auction (I would have started with a Double rather than 1 but my expert opponent knew that auctions don't die- only old people) and then proceeded to rebid his Diamonds with an almighty jump and arrived in a 5 contract. He then played the hand to perfection.

After ruffing the first trick he played a top Diamond to gauge the layout of the diamond suit and see if any interesting Diamond Queen would appear- NO.

He now played a low Heart towards the Queen as if he had intentions of ruffing Hearts in the short hand hoping that West had the Heart Ace and was hoping that West was a follower of second hand plays low, and he was when the Queen held. Would West also hold the Spade King? It was now time for a Ruffing finesse. If it worked, then the Heart loser can be thrown on the spade later and if it did work the eart loser would go now. He now played the Spade Ten and when west played low away went the heart loser. He now played a top Spade and when West played the King he trumped in dummy. Now he played a Diamond delighted to see the Queen fall. He now made his contract plus one by winning 5 trumps, 1 Heart, 1 Heart ruffed. 1 Top Spade, 1 Spade ruffed and 3 established Spades.

  You can also play out the following hand  to see how the hand pans out. (You need bridgvu.exe programme  and it is available free from   http://www.haroldschogger.com/movies.html )                      

alternatively watch the film of the hand being played out by going to www.haroldschogger.com/movies2.htm

if you would like to comment on this page or say you like it you may do so now :-

HTML Comment Box is loading comments...

 

   
 

 

Home

 

Home