Deal of the Week (Oct 20, 2006) Click here for Archives |
Problem: After a transfer sequence, you end up declaring 6♠ as South. The opening lead is ♦J. Plan the play. Solution: What is the best way to play the spade suit on this deal? To answer this question optimally, you must know how many losers you can afford in the suit. The answer to the latter question depends on the outcome of the heart finesse. If the ♥K is onside, then you can afford a spade loser. If the ♥K is offside, you cannot afford to lose a spade and must play the suit for 5 tricks. Since the heart finesse will tell you if you can afford a spade loser or not, you must take the heart finesse before tackling spades. Say the heart finesse loses. The percentage play for taking 5 spade tricks is to play a spade to the Queen. This play will win whenever West has King and one other spade, or when West has three spades to the King and East has the singleton Jack (in this case you can come back to hand and play a spade to the 10).
Suppose the heart finesse wins. How do you play the spade suit now? If you play a spade to the Queen, and it loses to the King. You win East's return in hand and play another spade towards dummy and West follows with a low spade. You now need to guess whether East started with the singleton King, or King-Jack doubleton. Playing a spade to the 10 initially is no better; if East wins the Jack, you are left with the same guess. Fortunately, there is a safety play to restrict your spade losers to 1 as long as East does not have three or more spades headed by the King and Jack. Lay down the ♠A. If either defender follows with an honor, your problems are solved. If both defenders follow with low cards, you will come back to hand and play a spade towards the Queen. On this hand, proper technique is awarded with an overtrick, as the ♠A fells the King from East. You can now come back to hand and play a spade to the 10, and score all 13 tricks. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Bridge Baron's Line of Play Bridge Baron deal No : N2975-71213-92829-77906-78782-23227 |
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