Hand of the Fortnight

Number 20

Theme: Blocking a suit

Definition: "Blocking a suit" means that you played the cards in such a way that you can’t get into dummy’s or partner’s hand.

Ex. 1: Consider this combination – playing a 3NT contract by East.

West East

S: 9 8 6 S: A Q 4

H: T 3 H: K Q 7

D: K Q J 8 7 3 D: A 9

C: 5 2 C: K Q T 9 5

Opening lead: D2 (South)

Trick 1: D2 D3 D6 ?

If you play the D9 thinking "That’s all I need to use to take the trick, you have BLOCKED your entry to West’s juicy Diamonds.

You will have D: K Q J 8 7 with D: A

leaving you unable to get into Dummy’s Diamonds.

Below is an example of avoiding blocking partner’s LONGER SUIT WHEN DEFENDING. (This example would apply to both 4 and 5 card major players.)

Ex. 2: You are sitting East. After partner overcalled South’s opening 1D bid with 1H, South is playing a 3NT contract.

North

S: A T 8 6 5

H: 5

D: K T 4

C: K Q J 6

West East

S: J 2 S: 9 7 4 3

H: K J 7 4 2 H: A 9 8 3

D: A J 7 D: 3

C: J 3 2 C: T 8 5 4

South

S: K Q

H: Q T 6

D: Q 9 6 5 2

C: A 9 7

Possible Play:

Trick 1: H4 H5 HA H6

Trick 2: H9 HT HJ D4

Trick 3: HK DT H8 HQ

(If H3 instead of H8, you BLOCK partner’s longer Hearts. Hence after you take your H8 on trick 4, you are left guessing whether partner has DA or CA to have been able to bid. With South bidding 1D earlier, you’d probably try C4 with disastrous consequences. Declarer captures, plays SK and SQ and reel off 9 BLACK TRICKS TO MAKE THE CONTRACT.)

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