| Deal of the Week (Nov 30, 2007) Click here for Archives |
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Problem: The Auction: West North East South 1NT pass 3NT all pass North-South reach 3NT after a straightforward auction, in a knockout match (where the scoring is IMPs, and the objective is to defeat the contract). Partner leads a fourth highest ♥2, and an intimadating seven-trick dummy comes down. How do you propose to defeat the contract? Solution: The opening lead is the ♥2, and the the play to the first trick seems simple enough, you play a heart honor. Dummy has 10 HCP, you have 13, and partner has 0-2 HCP. You need to play partner for a heart card to have any chance of setting the contract. If partner has the ♥Q, then the obvious continuation of the ♥A will defeat the contract. Before playing a third heart to partner's assumed queen, the ♠A should be cashed of course. But what if partner has the ♥J instead of the queen? You know that declarer has three hearts (remember, partner led the his fourth highest heart, the two, and therefore has four hearts). If declarer has the ♥Q, then cashing two top hearts will enable you to take only three tricks.
The correct continuation at trick two is a low heart, giving declarer a guess if he has Q10x. This play is safe, since you know that declarer has exactly three hearts. If declarer misguesses and plays the ten, your side will be able to win the first five tricks. It is worth noting that winning the opening lead deceptively with the ♥A and playing back a low heart highly increases declarer's chance of misguessing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bridge Baron deal No : N0242-96902-57620-39651-58401-06081 You can download this deal in PPL format, and view it with Bridge Baron here :Deal Of The Week |
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