Hand of the week commencing
Sunday 30th March 2008
|
|
East
Dealer |
ª |
A
Q 5
|
|
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|
|
Neither
Vulnerable |
© |
8
5 3 2 |
|
|
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|
|
¨ |
A
10 9 3 2 |
|
|
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|
|
§ |
8 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
N |
|
|
|
ª |
J
3 2
|
|
|
ª |
9
8 4 |
|
© |
7
6 4 |
|
W
E |
© |
J
10 9 |
|
¨ |
Q
8 |
|
|
¨ |
J
7 4 |
|
§ |
A
9 7 6 2 |
|
|
§ |
J
10 4 3 |
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|
|
|
S |
|
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|
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|
ª |
K
10 7 6 |
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|
Lead
§6 |
© |
A
K Q |
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|
¨ |
K
6 5 |
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|
|
§ |
K
Q 5 |
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|
W |
N |
E |
S |
|
|
|
NO |
2NT |
|
NO |
3§* |
NO |
3ª |
|
NO |
3NT |
NO |
NO |
|
NO |
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Playing
MP’s what is safest way to
make 11 tricks (maybe 12) ?
Playing
MP’s every overtrick is valuable and this hand is certainly no different from
any other. Initially we have 9 top tricks after the lead.- 1 Club, 2 Diamonds,
and 3 in each Major.
To
increase our trick tally we
have several options. We can go after the Spades and hope that the Spades break
33 (36%) or the Spade Jack is doubleton. We can play three rounds of Hearts and
hope they break 33 (36%) then our 13th one will be established or we
can go after Diamonds. If we rely on the first two options and they both work
then we will realize 2 extra tricks from the Majors.
However,
if we
can go after Diamonds and the suit breaks 32-68% we now guarantee 11 tricks and
possibly 12 if they do not cash the Club Ace. If we play Diamonds, we must
protect our remaining club holding, otherwise we risk going off. We will
therefore finesse the Diamond through East into West, the safe hand.
After
winning the first trick we play a small spade to dummy in order to play the
Diamond Ten which we will run to West’s Queen. (NB If East were to foolishly
cover we now make all 13 tricks.) If West plays passively, not cashing his Ace
we now bring in 12 tricks.
The
Diamonds break so we can bring home up to 4 Spades, 4 Hearts, 4 Diamonds and 1
Club (but the opposition won the ¨Q
and maybe the §A)