Test Your Play
1. IMPs. South deals. Both vulnerable.
♠ 7 4 3 2
♥ A Q 7
♦ A Q 4
♣ K J 4
♠ A K Q 10 9
♥ 9 6 3
♦ K 8
♣ A 7 2
| West | North | East | South |
| 1NT(?) | |||
| Pass | 4NT | Pass | 6♠ |
| All Pass |
Opening lead: ♦J.
No, nobody would have bid the hands this way, but I needed to get you to 6♠ and not 6NT to test your play. Spades are 2–2. What’s your plan?
2. Matchpoints. South deals. Both vulnerable.
♠ J 9
♥ A 4 2
♦ K 9 5 3
♣A K J 9
♠ A Q 4 2
♥ K Q 8
♦ A 10
♣ Q 10 7 2
| West | North | East | South |
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 4NT | Pass | 6NT |
| All Pass |
Of course, 6♣ is practically on ice and even 7♣ is possible, but this is matchpoints where notrump is king.
West leads the ♥J. Plan the play.
| ♠ J 9 | ||
| ♥ A 4 2 | ||
| ♦ K 9 5 3 | ||
| ♣ A K J 9 | ||
| ♠ 10 8 7 5 | ♠ K 6 3 | |
| ♥ J 10 9 | ♥ 7 6 5 3 | |
| ♦ J 6 4 | ♦ Q 8 7 2 | |
| ♣ 6 4 3 | ♣ 8 5 | |
| ♠ A Q 4 2 | ||
| ♥ K Q 8 | ||
| ♦ A 10 | ||
| ♣ Q 10 7 2 |
You have 10 top tricks with chances for extra tricks in both diamonds and spades.
In order to secure one extra trick in diamonds, the percentage play is to lead low to the 10 and then play the ace‑king.
Even if that does secure an extra diamond trick, however, you still need the spade finesse. The better play by far is to go for two extra tricks in spades, a play which requires only one finesse — leading low to the 9. If that holds or drives out the king, you have your two extra tricks and it is clearly the better line.
Even if the 9 loses to the 10, you still have a far out (very far out) chance of making the contract if the ♠K is with East and either player with four or more spades also has the ♦Q J (or any five diamonds). That player can be squeezed on the run of the clubs and hearts.
