. Dealer North. None Vul.

                                    ♠          J

                                    ♥          10 7 4 2

                                    ♦          K Q 10 9

                                    ♣          A J 5 4

            ♠          K Q 10 9 7 6                             ♠          8 5 3

            ♥          Q 9                                           ♥          8 6 5 3

            ♦          A 3 2                                        ♦          J 8 5

            ♣          7 6                                            ♣          8 3 2

                                    ♠          A 4 2

                                    ♥          A K J

                                    ♦          7 6 4

                                    ♣          K Q 10 9

On our hand this week West leads the Spade king and the first thing you need to do is try and cut communications between West and East, the defenders. The way you do this is to hold up the Ace until the third round.

Now initially you have 7 winners from 4 clubs, 1 Spade and 2 Hearts. Needing two more you think Diamonds. As long as the Diamond ace is not in same hand as the Spades you could play a Diamond up to dummy’s King.

However before doing this it is a no cost play to test the Hearts. You play the Ace noting the fall of the 9 from West. Is your luck in? You now play the King and the Queen falls. Now there is no need to go after the Diamonds. as the Heart suit now produces the 2 extra tricks you need.

You made 1 Spade, 4 Hearts and 4 clubs.

 When this hand was played against me West didn’t know what day it was- firstly he didn’t overcall 2ª on this lovely suit and then he proceeded to lead his 4^th highest spade (instead of top of the lovely sequence) and I was able to win first trick with dummy’s Jack and wrap up 13 tricks just.

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.videoes.html or BridgeBase programme on your machine already to view it )

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