Hand of the week

Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday 16th October 2022

What do you lead ? plan your defence

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

Dealer: South Vuln: E/W

♠	Q 8 7
♥	7
♦	A Q J 5 4 3 2
♣	K 3

♠	10
♥	A Q 9 6
♦	K 7 6
♣	J 7 6 4 2

	N
W		E
W		E
	S

♠	A 6 5 4
♥	J 10 4 2
♦	9 8
♣	Q 10 5

♠	K J 9 3 2
♥	K 8 5 3
♦	10
♣	A 9 8

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

(NB Ignore South's 1♥ reply, a little bizarre, to say the least, and maybe South should have opened 1♠ and now West does lead a Heart)

After winning the first trick declarer plays a Diamond and overtakes his ten and plays ace and another Diamond.

You win with your king and now you are at the crossroads of the hand. The reason you didn't lead a Heart (your main suit) was because you are sitting over declarer with your AQ9 (and South had already replied 1♥ ).

In order to defeat this contract you will need to get to partner's hand so partner can play a Heart through.

What potentially is the only way to get to partner's hand without giving away a Heart trick. You have to now take your chances and play a Spade. Partner wins and switches to the Jack of Hearts and now the defence take 1 Spade 4 Hearts and 1 Diamond to defeat this contract.

Without the Spade switch declarer will probably get home with 6 Diamonds 2 Clubs and West having to play a Heart around to declarer's King late in the hand.

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

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