ANSofhandofweek

Hand of the week

Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday 7th December 2025

Plan your defence - what do you lead against their 3NT contract?

If you would like to play this out click here

Dealer: SouthVuln: All

♠	Q 6 5 4 2
♥	A 2
♦	K 8 6 5
♣	J 2

♠	3
♥	10 7 6 5
♦	9 2
♣	A K 9 8 7 5

	N
W		E
W		E
	S

♠	K 10 9 8 7
♥	K 8 4
♦	Q 7 3
♣	4 3

♠	A J
♥	Q J 9 3
♦	A J 10 4
♣	Q 10 6

W	N	E	S
			1NT¹
Pass	2♥²	Pass	2♠
Pass	3NT	End

1. Strong NT 15-17 2. Transfer to Spades

We are often told to lead highest of our longest suits. But Why?

This hand more than demonstrates why.

You need to keep the high card(s) as an entry if partner gets the lead and can play back the suit to you.

If you were tempted to lead the top club now you will cut communications with your partner the other defender and the contract will make.

How do you know not to cash even one top Club? Declarer is balanced, dummy is balanced so at the most partner can have is 3 clubs or maybe even 2.

So lead the ♣9 and when partner later on gets the lead with a Heart or Spade or even a Diamond he will be able to play his remaining club and potentially you now have 5 club tricks to cash from the top.

( you can play these hands out using bridgevu.exe and it is available free from http://www.haroldschogger.com/movies.html ) Click on the lin picture above

alternatively watch the film of the hand being played out by going to www.haroldschogger.com/movies2.htm

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