Answer to

Hand of the week commencing Sunday 3rd February 2008  

West leads the ªQ. Plan your play in this contract of 3NT.

This hand comes from the London Trophy Finals . Three of the four declarers in 3NT failed because they followed  the dictum of 'concentrating on your longest suit'.  Timing is the essence in playing these hands and the first consideration is whether you should win or duck at trick one.  There are situations, notably if you suspect a 6-2 split, where it is right to duck immediately, exhausting a defender of the suit before you lose your first trick in your long suit.  Here, however, it is correct to win at trick one otherwise the defenders, having won a spade trick, may switch to clubs to secure two tricks in that suit along with the spade and one in each red suit for five in all.  With West likely to have the length in spades, it is critical to lose the first red-suit trick to him and the second to East rather than the other way around.

The three unsuccessful declarers all took an early diamond finesse and when it lost and a spade was returned, South was ready to cash his spade winners on winning the ©A.  Joyce Brown for Farnham demonstrated the correct line when she played on hearts first.  After ducking the second spade, she took the diamond finesse into the safe hand, North, after which she could not be defeated.  South held the ©A and North the ¨K:

This competition is now in its 29^th year and is open to Teams of Four from non playing Bridge clubs. Tennis, golf and social clubs are all eligible and if you would like to get your entry in before the closing date of mid September then contact :-                         

                                Cecil Leighton

                                6 The Bowls

                                Vicarage Lane

                                Chigwell, Essex   

                                Tel:  020 8500 0700

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