Hand of the week

Hand of the week

Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday 29th December 2024

What do you as West lead and then plan your play once you see dummy?

If you would like to play this hand click here

Dealer: East Vuln: All

♠	9 2
♥	9 7 5
♦	K J 2
♣	A 10 8 7 2

♠	A K Q 5
♥	A 6 3
♦	10 9 6 5 4
♣	3

	N
W		E
W		E
	S

♠	J 8 7 6 3
♥	K J 10
♦	8 3
♣	J 9 6

W	N	E	S
		Pass	1NT¹
Pass	Pass	Pass

1. 1NT = 12-14

Nothing ever surprises me but this hand certainly did as West was a member of the always brigade and led 4th highest. Declarer was able to win the first trick and reel off 7 more tricks bringing her total to 8.

Let's now rewind. Although your diamonds are longer why not play a top spade first, look at dummy, and see if partner encourages.

Partner now encourages the first trick with the 7 and you can now play 2 more top Spades and one more over to partners' Jah. She can now cash the thirteenth spade and you can signal you dont want to a Diamond by throwing a low diamond.

Partner now looks at dummy and should realise its a pointless exercise to play a Club as there is a five card club suit in that dummy.

Partner now switches to the ♥Jack and the defence now obtain 3 more tricks and the defenders now take 8 tricks instead of declarer, making 5 Spades and 3 Hearts straight away.

You as West must not play the ♥6 to encourage, as the suit might get blocked and then you will only get two Heart tricks.

(NB West needed to play some sort of convention over 1NT opener to get to their Spade Fit and make 10 tricks there).

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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