Answer to

Hand of the week commencing Sunday 5th August 2007  

Plan your play in 4ª after West leads the §5.

(NB 3§ is natural bid and preemptive.)

 

 

 

ª

K 10 5 2

 

 

 

 

©

K 5 2

 

 

 

 

¨

A J 4 3

 

 

 

 

§

 A 4

 

 

 

 

 

N

 

 

ª

Q 9 7

 

 

ª

 8

©

A Q J 9 6

 

W                          E

©

 8 3

¨

K 7 5

 

 

¨

 10 9 8

§

 5 2

 

 

§

K Q 10 9 8 7 3

 

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

ª

 A J 6 4 3

 

 

 

 

©

 10 7 4

 

 

 

 

¨

 Q 6 2

 

 

 

 

§

 J 6

 

 

W

N

E

S

 

 

1NT

3§

3ª

 

NO

4ª

NO

NO

 

NO

 

 

 

 

 

After winning the opening lead, the 3§ intervention places East with a lot of Clubs (probably 7), so the trumps suit looks to be dividing 31, so you should play a Spade to the ace and successfully finesse dummy’s 10. When this turns out to be right, you are not yet out of the woods, as you still appear to be looking at 2 Heart losers, 1 Diamond and 1 Club. You now exit with a club to East who plays the Diamond 10 around to dummy’s Jack. You cash the Diamond Ace and another to West’s King. West is now endplayed and can cash one heart before giving you the King. You have lost 1 Club, 1 Diamond and 1 Heart with your losing club going on the thirteenth Diamond in dummy. You have amassed 5 trump tricks, 1 Heart 3 Diamonds and 1 Club and played the hand to pinpoint perfection after East’s 3§ intervention.

(If, after winning his Club, East gets off lead with a Heart you finesse the diamond Jack yourself before playing hearts and more Hearts. Now West will have to either give you an eventual Heart ruff and discard or play around to your Diamond Queen instead)