1. 

Answer to Hand of the week, week commencing

Sunday 12th September 2010

Partner leads ¨A, you when you throw the  Jack   now partner plays the 5 to your 10 which holds plan your defence

 

		Dealer South	♠	A K 10
		Love All	♥	K J 10 7 3
			♦	9 6 4 2
			♣	A
	♠	J 5 2			♠	8
	♥	—			♥	9 8 6 4 2
	♦	A K Q 5			♦	J 10 3
	♣	K 9 8 7 4 3			♣	Q J 6 5
			♠	Q 9 7 6 4 3
			♥	A Q 5
			♦	8 7
			♣	10 2

W	N	E	S
			2ª
3§	4ª	5§	NO
NO	5ª	NO	NO
NO

When partner drops a high honour this is saying “either I started with a singleton and couldn’t help myself or I am telling you I have the card immediately below this one”. So when Partner drops the Jack they are now guaranteeing the 10.

Once you have done this your partner plays the 5 at trick 2 and you find yourself winning the trick. The only logical explanation for this move by partner, is that partner desperately wants you to grab the lead and give him a ruff. 

You look at your hand and look at dummy and deduce that partner “must have” a void in Hearts and you duly lead a Heart for him to ruff.

This defence takes the contract one off  and gives you most of the Match Points because most   declarers were easily making 11 tricks, losing just two top Diamonds.

You can also view  watch the following movie to see how the hand pans out. (You need bridgvu.exe programme  or BridgeBase programme on your machine already to view it ) and it is available free from

http://www.haroldschogger.com/videos.htm