KT97 A3 86 KT532
32 KQT5 AT94 Q98		86 J942 QJ732 76
	AQJ54 876 K5 AJ4

 

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

Opening Lead: K

On this month’s hand, Declarer noted he had 5 possible losers, 2 hearts, 2 diamonds, and 1 club. He could ruff a heart and as long as East didn’t get in to lead a diamond through his King, he could pitch at least one diamond loser on the long clubs after he Queen of clubs was gone. With that in mind, our declarer won the Ace of Hearts (East playing the nine of hearts) and pulled two rounds of trump ending in dummy. He now led a low club to the Jack. It lost but declarer wasn’t worried. He expected West to cash the King of Hearts and if he didn’t cash the Ace of diamonds, it would go away.

Unfortunately for Declarer, West was in no rush to play to the next trick. He noted that his partner had played the nine to the first heart trick. That should indicate that partner had the Jack. With that in mind he lead a low heart instead of the Queen. East won with his Jack and had no problems in finding the switch to the Queen of diamonds to defeat the contract.

Our declarer had the right idea (keep East off the lead) but he didn’t go far enough. To make today’s game, our declarer has to duck the first heart. Now there is no way for East to get in to lead a diamond through your King.

TIP OF THE MONTH:

When you have to keep an opponent off the lead, make sure you do.