Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday 28th May 2023

Plan your play in 3NT after ♠2 is led

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Dealer: East Vuln: None

When this hand was played against me, declarer had not counted his winners nor worked out how to establish the required extra tricks. Firstly, he ducked the first two trick and then went after the Clubs - now he could not make it and was a trick short.

Now lets go back to square one. When somebody leads a 2 against your No Trump Contract its bound to be 4th highest of ONLY FOUR so all the two defenders can ever take are three spade tricks when they get in.

Initially you have a count of 1 Spade winner, 2 Diamond winners 2 Club winners so you need FOUR MORE. Going after either of the Minors is not going to produce the four extra you need. Your only hope is that the Hearts behave themselves and break 3:3 - if you had sufficient entries to your hand you could lead up to the Heart suit twice just in case the suit is breaking 4:2 with West holding a Doubleton Heart Ace but you do not have sufficient entries to do that.

So just win first trick with the Spade Ace and plonk down that Heart King. The opponents take their Ace and cash three Spade winners before exiting with a Club which you win. You now play your top hearts pleased to see the suit breaking kindly 3:3

You can now claim your contract making 1 Spade, 4 Hearts and two tricks in each minor for a well thought out hand losing just 3 Spades and the Heart Ace.