Answer to Hand of the week commencing Sunday 22nd February 2009      

 

 

North Dealer

ª

 Q 5

 

 

 

Neither Vulnerable

©

 A J 10 7 5

 

 

 

 

¨

 10 9 6 5 3

 

 

 

 

§

 3

 

 

 

 

 

N

 

 

ª

 J 9 7

 

 

ª

 A 10 8 4 2

©

 4 3

 

W                          E

©

 K Q 8 6 2

¨

 K J

 

 

¨

 2

§

 K Q J 9 8 5

 

 

§

 7 2

 

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

ª

 K 6 3

 

 

 

 

©

 9

 

 

 

 

¨

 AQ 8 7 4

 

 

 

 

§

 A 10 6 4

 

 

                           

W

N

E

S

 

 

 

1¨

2§

2©

NO

3¨

NO

5¨

NO

NO

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

West leads §K plan your play.

After the lead, it is very tempting to draw trumps, but if the trump King is offside and West fires back a trump you will be a trick short at the eleventh hour.

On this hand it is vital to count winners correctly and an initial count adds up to just the three Aces, Therefore 8 further tricks need to be established. One will have to come from Spades and the other 8 all from a genuine cross ruff. (A Genuine cross ruff being when there are identical number of trumps in dummy and declarer’s hand.)

After winning the first trick immediately play a Spade towards dummy’s Queen which will be won by East who correctly fires back a trump. Hop up with the Ace and merely cash Spade winner and cross ruff the remaining tricks between Clubs and Hearts. The defence can take their winning Trump King whenever they wish.

 

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