Answer to

Hand of the week commencing Sunday 29th July 2007  

 

West leads ªA, East shows out.  He then switches to the ¨Q. 

What is the easiest way to make 12 tricks ?

 

 

Dealer North

ª

K Q 8 6 4 3 2

 

 

 

NS Vulnerable

©

Q J 4 2

 

 

 

 

¨

 

 

 

 

 

§

K 6

 

 

 

 

 

N

 

 

ª

 A J 10 7 5

 

 

ª

 

©

7 6

 

W                          E

©

5 3

¨

 Q J 9 5

 

 

¨

A K 8 7 6 2

§

 4 2

 

 

§

Q J 9 7 3

 

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

ª

9

 

 

 

 

©

A K 10 9 8

 

 

 

 

¨

10 4 3

 

 

 

 

§

A 10 8 5

 

 

W

N

E

S

 

 

1ª

2¨

2©

 

3¨

4©

5¨

6©

 

NO

NO

DBL

NO

 

NO

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The problem on hands like this is to want to ruff in both hands and then you lose control of trumps. The easiest way to make 12 tricks here if the trumps are no worse than 31, is to set up dummy’s Spades.

West is trying to shorten dummy’s trump holding by playing a Diamond at trick two. Win on table and trump a low spade. Now draw trump, even if they are 31 ending up on table. (As the card lie they were 22 so only one more round is drawn). Now ruff one more spade in hand and claim. By now the spades are established. You can now claim with 4 trumps, 2 spades, 2 spades ruffed, 2 Clubs and 2 established Spades.