Answer to

Hand of the week commencing Sunday 6th April 2008  

 

 

 

South Dealer

ª

 A K J 10 9 8

 

 

 

Neither Vulnerable

©

 A J 5 2

 

 

 

 

¨

 J 2

 

 

 

 

§

 10

 

 

 

 

 

N

 

 

ª

 7 6 5 3

 

 

ª

4 2

©

 Q 8 7

 

W                          E

©

 4

¨

 K 10 7 5

 

 

¨

 9 8 6 4 3

§

 J 9

 

 

§

 A Q 7 3 2

 

 

 

S

 

 

 

 

ª

 Q

 

 

 

Lead ¨5

©

 K 10 9 6 3

 

 

 

 

¨

 A Q

 

 

 

 

§

 K 8 6 5 4

 

 

                           

 

W

N

E

S

 

 

 

 

1©

 

NO

1ª

2NT

 DBL     * forcing

3¨

4§*

5¨

DBL

 

NO

5©

NO

6©

 

NO

NO

NO

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How did Ram Soffer the Israeli international play the following hand to maximize his chances of finding the Trump Queen ?

 

From the bidding Ram knew that Right hand opponent (East) was 55 in the Minors and therefore the Trump Queen was more likely to be on his left. However before touching trumps he decided to check out the rest of the distribution by playing off  two top Spades.  Once East followed to two rounds he was now able to comfortably play off the top Trump from hand (just incase East’s trump was singleton Queen ) and then  to finesse west for the trump Queen. Now declarer came to 13 tricks with all the Spades, all the Hearts and 2 Diamonds.

(NB Having escaped a Club lead it would be no good playing off 2 top trumps and then playing winning Spades as West would trump in and cash the Club Ace before all the clubs could be thrown)

 

 

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