Today in a pairs game, the reader is put to test in these 3 boards sitting south board 1, south holds:
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Q J
A J 2
A Q 7
A Q J 9 8
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Bidding goes as under:
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North South
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1D 3C
3D 4NT
5D 5NT
6H 6NT
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Landing in 6NT, you see the following dummy on the lead of 10H west.
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North
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A 10 3
K Q
J 8 6 5 4 2
K 10
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South
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Q J
A J 2
A Q 4
A Q J 9 8
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Winning the first trick in dummy with QH, you lead a small diamond towards your tenace of AQX, but are disappointed when east, discards the 9S showing a void. Despite the shocking distribution can you find a safe way to make 6NT?
The solution is simple. You have 5 top club tricks plus 3 top diamond tricks besides 2 aces making 10. You need 2 more which can come via successful spade finesse. But after playing the diamond from dummy what should be the proper sequence of tricks playable? Win with AD and play low diamond to the knave. If west takes the King, all problems are solved with diamonds running. So west will surely duck to let you hold the JD as a trick on his 9D. Once 2 diamond tricks come in the bag, you can come to hand with AH overtaking QH from dummy and take the safe spade finesse, which even if it losers, gives declarer 2 spade tricks, added to 2 diamond tricks developed besides the 5 club and 3 heart tricks to make your 12 trick contract west east held:
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8 6 2 K 9 7 5 4
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3
K 10 9 3 -
5 4 7 6 3 2
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Board 2 while holding as south:
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6 2
8 6 3
Q J 9 2
10 7 6 2
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You hear the following bidding:
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W N E S
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- - 1H Pass
1S Double 3H Pass
3S Pass 4S All Pass
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On the opening lead of AD by partner, you see the following dummy perched on your right.
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K Q 5
A K Q J 9 4
10 4
8 4
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East plays 4D, what is your card at trick 1. Looking at the power house in dummy your only hope lies in the minor suits. If partner holds AK of clubs he would be in control but if he holds the tenace in clubs such as all you need to be on lead at trick 3. What is the solution? Yes - drop QD so that partner places the JD or singleton with you. Now even with KD in hand, north would safety under lead from his holding of the king of diamonds. Of course if north does not hold AC, no defense can stop 4S from making. Declarer in fact held KJ9 while partner held AQ of clubs. On board 3 NS reach 4S as under:
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N S
- 1S
2D 3S
4S All Pass
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West leads QH and as South you see
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North
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7
A 4
Q J 10 8 7 5
A J 6 3
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South
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A K Q J 10 9 2
8 6 2
9 3
K
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On the face of it with 7 solid trumps all and 2 aces, all declarer needs is to ensure either 2 club tricks or a ruff of hearts in dummy. As south how do you plan your play to ensure your contract of 4S? Of course this is a problem of communication with dummy's entry of AH threatened to cut you off.
Taking AH does not help. For the opponents on winning the second heart will lead spades to present the heart ruff and blocking dummy's AC.
The correct play is to duck the QH. Now if they switch to trumps, you cash KC and have the AH as an entry to cash the AC for your 10th trick. If one the other hand they continue with the hearts, your get a bonus. Coming to hand with KC, you can ruff the heart and discard a losing diamond on your AC for your contract.
As south, if you have scored all 3 problems right you get 100%; with 2 as advanced player, you get 75%; one correct solution is for the average player- 50%. By the way, what is your score?
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