Dealer North. None Vul.

                                    ♠          A Q J 10 7

                                    ♥          A 7 5

                                    ♦          9 8

                                    ♣         J 9 2

            ♠          K 5                              ♠          8 6 3 2

            ♥          J 8 6 4 3                     ♥          K Q 10 2

            ♦          5 4 3                           ♦          Q 10 7 2

            ♣         Q 7 6                           ♣         10

                                    ♠          9 4

                                    ♥          9

                                    ♦          A K J 6

                                    ♣         A K 8 5 4 3

This hand comes from Ok Bridge and I was the unfortunate partner of South who could neither bid properly nor play properly.

When I bid 2© 4th suit forcing all partner had to do was rebid 3§ and I would have probably bid 3Nt . After the Heart lead declarer played on clubs and when the queen did not appear he gave up a club trick and now went one off as the defence cashed their Heart tricks.

Now let's rewind. After winning the first trick in dummy (little point in holding up with so many Hearts against you and no opponent bidding Hearts so it looks like the Hearts are distributed 5:4). Now you are in dummy play the Club Jack to see if you can tempt a Cover. East plays low so you cash two top clubs disappointed to see the suit breaking badly with West holding the Queen. Now you will have to turn your attention to Spades and hope the Spade finesse works.

You carefully lead the 9 so that you can stay in correct hand to repeat the finesse. When the 9 holds you cash a top Diamond just in case a singleton Diamond Queen is floating about. (NO it isn't).

You now take a second spade finesse and the King appears. You cash the remaining spade winners. To date you have made 5 Spades, 1 Heart, 1 Diamond and 2 clubs (your contract). You can now take the Diamond finesse without putting your contract into jeopardy. The finesse works and to add insult to injury East has released a Diamond and you make all your Diamonds, and lose just the last trick to West's Club Queen.

Instead of going one down you now make  12 tricks by way of 5 Spades, 1 Heart, 4 Diamonds, and 2 Clubs.

You can also watch the following movie to see how the hand pans out. To view this programme you will need  to download htttp://www.haroldschogger.com/bridgevu.setup

  alternatively watch the film www.haroldschogger.com/movies2.htm

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