Answer to Hand of the week commencing Sunday 1st February 2009      

 

Dealer South

ª

 6 4

 

 

 

E/W Vulnerable

©

 Q 9 5 3

 

 

 

 

¨

 Q J 8

 

 

 

 

§

 Q J 6 4

 

 

 

 

 

N

 

 

ª

Q 7 3

 

 

ª

 A J 10 9 2

©

 J 10 7 2

 

W                          E

©

 6 4

¨

 9 5

 

 

¨

 K 6 3 2

§

 A 10 8  5

 

 

§

 9 7

 

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

ª

 K 8 5

 

 

 

 

©

 A K 8

 

 

 

 

¨

 A 10 7 4

 

 

 

 

§

 K 3 2

 

 

                           

W

N

E

S

 

 

 

1¨

NO

1©

1ª

2NT

 NO

3NT

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As West what lead do you make ?

This hand comes from the 2005 EBU Spring Congress and West must make an effort not to cut himself of from his partner’s suit.  If he leads his Queen declarer will duck the first trick and East will probably take the second trick thinking his partner has a Doubleton Queen of Spades. When you have honour to three in your partner’s suit, lead a low card to show the Queen so the Three is the correct lead. Once the Three is led then East will know partner has three headed by the Queen (surely declarer would not be bidding 2NT with just QXX) and he will insert the 9 (lowest of touching honours when following suit). Now if declarer ducks this, East can play a small one back. Poor declarer cannot duck now and takes his King. Eventually West will get in with the Club Ace and still have a small Spade to reach partner’s remaining three winners. The defence will prevail taking 4 Spades and a Club. If declarer manages to cut communications between the 2 defenders he will have timing to dislodge the Club Ace and come to 9 tricks if not more.

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