Hand of the week

Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday 15th August 2021

♠8 is led plan your play in 3NT after this crazy auction J

<span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 51);">23 </span></a><br/><br/>

Dealer: South Vuln: All

♠	A 6
♥	A 10 9 6 3
♦	9 5
♣	9 7 3 2

♠	8 4
♥	K 8 2
♦	K J 7 3
♣	Q J 5 4

	N
W		E
W		E
	S

♠	10 9 7 5 2
♥	Q 7
♦	Q 4 2
♣	A 8 6

♠	K Q J 3
♥	J 5 4
♦	A 10 8 6
♣	K 10

W	N	E	S
			1♦
Pass	1♥	Pass	1NT
Pass	2♣	Pass	3NT
End

The player who bid this hand against me - what was worse his bidding or his card play? It seems that it must be equal as he managed to go two down without ever giving himself a chance to make the contract.

Having bid 3NT you must now hope the bridge gods are with you and rely on Heart honours being split or both with West (so a 75% chance of success) with this in mind win first trick in hand (not worrying about blocking the suit at this stage) and now take your first Heart finesse. As expected East now plays back a second Spade which you can win on the table. You now re-enter your hand with the ♦Ace. You cash your two winning Spades (while in hand or you will not get another chance. Now you finesse Hearts a second time and with the favourable ie you now get home with 4 Spades,4 hearts and 1 Diamonds. Had East switched to Clubs at trick 3 you would still be OK as those same bridge gods are with you and then you would make an overtrick.