Hand of the week

Hand of the week

Hand of the week, week commencing, Sunday 8th December 2024

What would you lead here? Plan your defence

If you would like to play this hand click here

What would you lead here?

Dealer: East Vuln: All

♠	9 5 2
♥	A 8 7
♦	A K 7
♣	A K Q 2

♠	10
♥	K J 10 3
♦	J 9 5 4 3
♣	6 5 4

	N
W		E
W		E
	S

♠	A 7 6
♥	Q 6 4 2
♦	Q 8 6
♣	J 8 3

♠	K Q J 8 4 3
♥	9 5
♦	10 2
♣	10 9 7

W	N	E	S
		Pass	2♠
Pass	6♠	End

In a situation like this you have to try and imagine partner's hand.

Declarer will not have very much outside Spades after his 2♠ weak opener. Dummy will have everything. Dummy will probably have AQ of Hearts so the best possible lead must be a Heart, the Jack and immediately puts declarer on a guess. Declarer wins but now cannot get rid of the the Heart loser as partner has the Heart King and trump ace and now the contract goes one down provided East plays a second Heart when he gets in with the trump Ace. If East is not sure what to play back, he can hold up the first trump to get a signal from partner to play another Heart at trick 4.

Any other suit led, declarer will get home as he will be able to draw trumps and eventually chuck that Heart loser on the 4th club.

You can also play out the following hand to see how the hand pans out. (You need bridgvu.exe programme and it is available free from http://www.haroldschogger.com/movies.html )

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

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