Dealer West. E/W Vul
 K 10 6
 Q 6
 K 10 9 8 5 3
 10 6 |
|
| A Q J
A 9 7 4
7 2
A Q J 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| 1 |
Pass |
Pass |
2NT1 |
| Pass |
3NT |
Pass |
Pass |
| Pass |
|
|
1. 18-19 with a heart stopper
Opening Lead
J.
West leads the jack of hearts from his known five-card major and dummy’s queen wins the trick, while East plays a card that is consistent with showing an even number of hearts. How do you plan to make your contract?
Solution:
The bidding suggests that West has the ace of diamonds, so cross to your hand with a spade and lead a diamond. You want the full deal to be something like this one.
|
K 10 6
Q 6
K 10 9 8 5 3
10 6 |
|
| 7 4
K J 10 9 2
A Q 4
K 8 2 |
|
9 8 5 3 2
5 3
J 6
9 7 5 4 |
|
A Q J
A 9 7 4
7 2
A Q J 3 |
If West takes the ace of diamonds and continues hearts you will win the ace of hearts and lead a low diamond, intending to cover West’s card. On the above layout West has to follow with the six and you play the ten of diamonds. After East wins the jack and shifts to a club you will rise with the ace of clubs and cross to dummy with a spade to run the diamonds. You will make three spades, two hearts, four diamonds and a club for a total of ten tricks.
If West wants to stop you making an overtrick he must play a low diamond at trick three. You would counter this by calling for dummy’s king of diamonds and, after that won the trick, you would develop three tricks in clubs by running the ten to West’s king. You will still make nine tricks: three spades, two hearts, a diamond and three clubs.
Finally, if West took the ace of diamonds at trick three and played an honour on the second round of diamonds you have to hope East started with three diamonds. So, in these circumstances, you must win the second diamond with the king and then, hoping for the best, play a third diamond.
