September 2010

TIP OF THE MONTH

This is a Hold-Up!!


Vul: Both
Dlr: West

 
QT942
K63
74
K53
 

AK5
92
A63
QT942

873
AQJ5
KQ98
J6

  J6
T874
JT52
A87

 

South
West
North
East
Pass
1
Pass
1
Pass
1NT
Pass
3NT
Pass
Pass
Pass
Opening Lead: 4

Bidding: West's rebid of 1NT denies 4 spades or 4 hearts.
East, with 13 points, carries on to the 3NT game.


Play: West realizes that unless both the heart finesse is on and
the diamond suit is divided 3-3 (an unlikely occurrence, and one that he should not play for)
his best hope to make the contract is to set up the club suit.

Since this will involve giving up the lead twice, it is best to try
to cut communications between the North South hands.
This can best be done by
refusing the first spade trick,
winning the continuation and leading clubs. If this is not done,
then South will have a spade left when he wins the club ace,
and it will be possible for North South to force out the other
spade honor while North still retains the club king for an entry.