Test Your Play
1. IMPs. Both vulnerable. South Deals.
♠ A 8 6 2
♥ J 4 3
♦ Q J 10 5 4
♣ 3
♠ K Q 7 5
♥ A 10 2
♦ 8 2
♣ A Q 10 4
| West | North | East | South |
| Pass | 1NT | ||
| Pass | 2♣ | Pass | 2♠ |
| Pass | 4♠ | All Pass |
West leads the ♦A (ace from ace-king). East plays the ♦3, standard count, and you falsecard with the ♦8. Apparently this little subterfuge works as West cashes the ♦K, East playing the 9. Attrick three West shifts to the ♥5 to East’s king and your ace. At trick four you lead the ♠K. How do you play if West plays the 3 and East the 9 and vice-versa?
2. IMPs. E-W vulnerable. South deals.
♠ 8 7 6 2
♥ 9 7 6 2
♦ K Q
♣ K 9 8
♠ 5
♥ A K J
♦ A J 3
♣ A J 10 7 6 5
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♣ | |||
| Pass | 1♥(1) | Pass | 2♦ |
| Pass | 3♣ | Pass | 3♥ |
| Pass | 4♦ | Pass | 4♥ |
| Pass | 5♣ | All Pass |
(1) Bidding the stronger major first.
West leads the ♠K and continues with a low spade to East’s ace, which you ruff. Now what?
| ♠ 8 7 6 2 | ||
| ♥ 9 7 6 2 | ||
| ♦ K Q | ||
| ♣ K 9 8 | ||
| ♠ K Q 10 3 | ♠ A J 9 4 | |
| ♥ Q 10 8 5 | ♥ 4 3 | |
| ♦ 10 7 4 2 | ♦ 9 8 6 5 | |
| ♣ 3 | ♣ Q 4 2 | |
| ♠ 5 | ||
| ♥ A K J | ||
| ♦ A J 3 | ||
| ♣ A J 10 7 6 5 |
Cross to the ♦K, cash the ♦Q, ruff a spade and discard dummy’s last spade on the ♦A. Assuming
everything has lived, lead the ♣J to the king and run the ♣9 if East follows.
Either the finesse will have worked and you have 11 tricks or West, upon winning the doubleton queen, will be endplayed.
Any return from West gives you the rest of the tricks. If East shows out on the second club, cover the 9 with the 10 to drive out the queen. This allows you to get to dummy with a trump to take the heart finesse assuming West exits with a trump.
