Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday  22nd February 2026

Plan your defence against their 4♥ contract

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Dealer: South Vuln: N/S

 

On this hand, North was too strong to reply 3♥ or 4♥ and took the delayed Game Road route to 4♥ by bidding a new suit first and then rebidding 4♥ confirming Heart support and 13-15 points.

If in doubt lead the unbid suit. So West with trump control should lead the unbid suit (spades) and hopes to get a ruff eventually.

Therefore West should lead ♠J (top of a doubleton).

Declarer wins the first trick and immediately plays a low heart up to dummy's King. Partner follows suit with the ♠10 encouraging like mad. No hurry here to go in with the Ace at trick 2, Dummy's King wins and you take the second Heart on which partner discards a Spade.

You now play a second spade which partner wins.

He cashes a second top Spade before playing the top club to defeat the contract by one.

( you can play these hands out using bridgevu.exe and it is available free from   http://www.haroldschogger.com/movies.html )  

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