Hand of the Fortnight

Number 25

Theme: When not to clear a remaining trump.

West is Declarer in 6H. North has led the SK. Plan your play allowing for an off-side 3-1 trump split.

North

S: K Q T 3

H: Q 8 7

D: T 8 6 4

C: 8 5

West East

S: A 7 S: 9 6

H: A K T 9 6 4 H: J 3 2

D: K Q 5 D: A J 9 7 2

C: A 3 C: K Q 6

South

S: 5 4 2

H: 5

D: 3

C: J T 9 7 4 2

Play: After immediately capturing the SK with SA, West correctly led HA to test the Heart situation. If North was void in Hearts, Declarer must get to Dummy to finesse the HQ.

Next West led the HK in the hope that Hearts split 2-2. Bad news ....temporarily!!

Here you must not continue trumps.

You must lose the Heart (trump) trick so instead eliminate the other (Spade) loser. Do this on the safest suit combination.

The short Club suit is the safest means of disposing of the S7 playing CA then CK and CQ. Here North does have enough Diamonds to not be able to trump in and cash the SQ but if North had 2 Diamonds, you would not have time to ditch the losing Spade if you used Diamonds rather than Clubs.

Note: In the bidding, East’s jump to 3D gave West the clear information of 10+ HCP and good Diamond length + quality.

With something like S: K Q 4

H: J 4 2

D: T 9 7 5 4 3

C: K

you don’t have enough HCP + you have poor Diamond quality. Don’t jump to 3D.

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