ACBL Unit 238 - Northeastern Ontario

Dealer: East
Vul: E-W

T842

642

AK62

A6

AQJ95

A8

93

KT82

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1
1	Pass	2	Pass
3	Pass	3	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
5	Pass	6	Pass
Pass	Pass

West leads a third-highest 3 and you let East’s J hold the trick. East returns the K to your ace. Obviously, East will have the K. If it is singleton or doubleton, there will be 12 fairly easy tricks. What is your plan for overcoming the cases where he has three or four trumps to the king?

Solution

Suppose this is the full deal:

	T842 642 AK62 A6
6 T53 T754 J9543		K73 KQJ97 QJ8 Q7
	AQJ95 A8 93 KT82

Dealer: South
Vul: Both

A864

T95

K86

Q54

KQ92

K

T74

KT972

South	West	North	East
Pass	1	Pass	2
2	4	4	X
Pass	Pass	Pass

CLICK ON LINK: http://web2.acbl.org/tournaments/results/2013/04/1304090.htm
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OR GO UNDER "TOURNAMENT RESULTS" AND CLICK ON 2013 UNDER "NORTH BAY SECTIONAL"

Dealer: South
Vul: Both

53

7532

KQJT

Q42

AK9862

AKQT

A

A5

South	West	North	East
2	Pass	2	Pass
2	Pass	3	Pass
3	Pass	4	Pass
7	Pass	Pass	Pass

How do you plan to play this adventurous grand slam after West leads the J to your ace?

Solution

If spades and trumps are 3-2, it will be easy to make 13 tricks. The best plan is to draw two rounds of trumps then cash the A and K. When all follow to the spades, draw the last trump, cash the A and ruff a spade. After throwing your remaining club on a good diamond, your hand will be high.

Dealer: West
Vul: E-W

T976

AQ2

KJ54

Q3

5

KJ63

AQT6

AT75

South	West	North	East
-	Pass	1	Pass
1	1	X	Pass
4	Pass	Pass	Pass

North’s double on the second round promised three-card heart support. You like an adventurous life, so you decide to leap to game in hearts despite knowing that you will have only a 4-3 trump fit. West begins with two top spades and East signals with two low cards to indicate a three-card suit. How do you plan to make 10 tricks?

Solution

Dealer: North
Vul: E-W

T862

AQJ76

QJT

A

AKJ4

K42

A95

762

West leads the Q. How do you plan to make 12 tricks?
Solution
If spades are 3-2, you could just play of the ace and king of trumps and run the hearts. This approach will not work so well when the trumps are 4-1. The key is to plan for a deal such as:

	T862 AQJ76 QJT A
3 T95 K763 QJT94		Q975 83 842 K853
	AKJ4 K42 A95 762

Dealer: East
Vul: E-W

QJ6

6

AJ983

QJ75

KT984

Q875

2

AK9

South	West	North	East
-	-	-	1
1	X	2	Pass
2	Pass	4	Pass
Pass	Pass

East’s 1 bid showed at least four diamonds unless precisely 4=4=3=2 shape. West’s double was negative. North’s cuebid showed a sound raise in spades. You were uncertain about the final spot, so you made a trial bid in hearts, prompting North to leap directly to game. How do you plan to make 10 tricks after West leads the A and another spade?

Solution

Dealer: West
Vul: E-W

964

A62

A84

8643

K853

K73

KQ5

AQ5

South	West	North	East
-	2	Pass	Pass
2NT	Pass	3NT	Pass
Pass	Pass

West, whose 2 opener showed 6-9 high-card points, leads the Q. As expected, East has to discard and he chooses a heart. Is there any way to make nine tricks against the best defense? A second question: How would you play 3NT if West had led the 10?
Solution

You need East to have begun with three clubs headed by the king and jack. At trick two, you should cash the A. Suppose this is the full deal:

Dealer: West
Vul: N-S

QT652

A764

T952

KJ987

93

6

AT973

South	West	North	East
-	1	Pass	1
1	2	4	X
Pass	Pass	Pass

West begins with the K, shifting to the 5 at trick two. Is there any chance of making 10 tricks?

Solution

The first question that you should ask is “Why didn’t West shift to a trump at trick two?” The obvious answer is that he doesn’t have one. You have to suppose the full deal is similar to this one:

	QT652 A764 T952
QT5 AKJ74 KJ542		A43 KJ82 Q83 Q86
	KJ987 93 6 AT973

Dealer: South
Vul: Both

AQ652

KJT6

K

J53

3

AQ97

AJ842

AK4

South	West	North	East
1	Pass	1	Pass
2	Pass	31	Pass
4	Pass	4NT	Pass
52	Pass	5	Pass
63	Pass	6	Pass
6	Pass	Pass	Pass

(1) Forcing, stronger than 4.
(2) 0 or 3 key cards.
(3) Q plus K.

West leads the 9, taken by dummy’s ace. East follows with an encouraging signal. Assuming that neither defender has a singleton in a minor suit, what is the safest line to make 12 tricks?

Solution

Suppose the full deal is as follows:

	AQ652 KJT6 K J53
9 82 QT975 Q9762		KJT874 543 63 T8
	3 AQ97 AJ842 AK4

Note: West has the 8 or 5.