Test Your Play
1. IMPs. N-S vulnerable. West Deals.
♠ Q J 6 3
♥ Q 6 4
♦ 3 2
♣ J 8 4 3
♠ A K 10 9 7 4
♥ —
♦ A K Q 5
♣ A 9 7
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♥ | Pass | 4♥ | 4♠ |
| Pass | Pass | 5♥ | Dbl |
| Pass | 5♠ | Pass | 6♠ |
| All Pass |
West leads the ♥K. You ruff and plunk down the ♠A, East discarding a heart. Plan the play.
2. IMPs. N-S vulnerable. North deals.
♠ K 3 2
♥ K 7 3
♦ K Q
♣ K 9 8
♠ A Q 10 5 4
♥ A 6
♦ A 7
♣ K J 6 5
After North opens 1♣, you (South) wind up in 6♠ against silent opponents. West leads the ♥2 (fourth‑best leads). You win and play the ♠A K.
- a. How do you play if both follow?
- b. How do you play if West shows out on the second spade?
a. Draw the last trump, cross to the ♥K and run the ♦Q. If the finesse loses, ruff the likely heart return, cash the ♦A, cross to the ♣A, discard a club on the ♦J and, unless you know something, take the club finesse.
If the diamond finesse wins, ruff a heart and play the ♣K. If both follow, with East playing the 9 or 10, lead a club. If West follows low, insert the ♣8, a safety play ensuring three club tricks. If East
follows to the ♣K low, cash the ♦A and lead a club to the ace and a club toward the jack ensuring three club tricks unless West has Q–10–9–x.
If East shows out on the ♣K, cash the ♦A and duck a club. If West started with a 3–3–2–5 pattern, he will have to lead from the ♣Q, limiting your club losses to one
trick. Don’t hold your breath.
b.
| ♠ K 3 2 | ||
| ♥ K 7 3 | ||
| ♦ Q J 5 | ||
| ♣ A 8 3 2 | ||
| ♠ 7 | ♠ J 9 8 6 | |
| ♥ Q 10 8 2 | ♥ J 9 5 4 | |
| ♦ 10 8 4 3 | ♦ K 9 6 2 | |
| ♣ Q 10 7 4 | ♣ 9 | |
| ♠ A Q 10 5 4 | ||
| ♥ A 6 | ||
| ♦ A 7 | ||
| ♣ K J 6 5 |
Lead a spade to the 10, discard a heart on the ♠Q, cross to the ♥K and run the ♦Q. If the ♦Q holds, cross to the ♦A, cash the ♣K and make the same safety play (a club to the 8) if the 9 or 10 appears from East.
If neither appears, cross to the ♣A and lead a club. Again, you lose only when West started with ♣Q 10 9 x.
If the diamond finesses loses, you’re back to the club finesse.
