Hand of the week

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

Dealer: North Vuln: E/W

♠	K 10 9
♥	A K 8
♦	9 6 2
♣	Q J 9 4

♠	5 3 2
♥	10 6 4
♦	A J 10 8 5 4
♣	6

	N
W		E
W		E
	S

♠	J 8 6 4
♥	Q 7 5 2
♦	7
♣	K 10 5 2

♠	A Q 7
♥	J 9 3
♦	K Q 3
♣	A 8 7 3

W	N	E	S
	1♣	Pass	3NT
End

All the time we learn that when the opponents lead your dodgy suit in which you only have one controlling card it is best to hold up the first trick and this is a good example.

When the Diamond Jack is led and East plays low it now looks like West has led from the top of an interior sequence.

We can only hold up once but at least that guards against a 5:2 split and if the Diamonds are 4:3 then the opponents can only take 3 tricks in diamonds.

NB We also need the club finesse to be right and not to let West in if West might hold the Club 10.

After holding up the first trick West now plays the Diamond Ace and you win the third Diamond. Enter dummy with a top Spade in order to take the Club finesse and it works. East covers the second Club and you win. You now concede one more club trick to East, the safe hand since he has no more Diamonds and you can claim your contract by way of 3 Spades, 2 Hearts, 2 Diamond and 3 clubs.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing and had you known East had only 1 Diamond you need not have held up the first trick. However that is not the safe way to play this hand L

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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