The
Bridge Student
The
Bridge Student
by Jay Apfelbaum
The February 2008 column brings another play problem.
Board: 21
Dealer: North
Vul: N/S
Form: IMP’s
|
|
North |
|
|
9 x x |
|
|
Q 9 x x x |
|
|
x |
|
|
K 10 6 x |
|
|
|
|
|
South |
|
|
A Q J x x x |
|
|
x |
|
|
10 x x x |
|
|
Q x |
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
--- |
Pass |
Pass |
2 |
|
Dbl. |
3 |
All Pass |
|
The opposition is strangely passive on this hand, and you get to play 3
on a trump lead. You play low and East contributes the King. You win
and play the Queen of Clubs. West wins and plays a second spade. East
follows with the Ten of Spades and you win. Plan the play.
This is a simple matter of counting your tricks. You have six spade tricks plus a ruff in dummy. You need two club tricks to get to nine, and the best chance of that is to finesse the Ten of Clubs. The right time to do that is now, while you still have a certain entry to dummy if the finesse loses.
Here is the complete hand.
|
|
|
|
North |
|
|
|
|
|
|
9 x x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q 9 x x x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
K 10 6 x |
|
|
|
|
West |
|
|
|
East |
|
|
x x |
|
|
|
K 10 |
|
|
K J x x |
|
|
|
A 10 x |
|
|
A Q x x |
|
|
|
K J x x |
|
|
A J x |
|
|
|
9 8 7 x |
|
|
|
|
South |
|
|
|
|
|
|
A Q J x x x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
10 x x x |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Q x |
|
|
And now it is time for next month’s hand. A defensive problem. You are South.
Board: 23
Dealer: South
Vul: Both
Form: Matchpoints
|
|
|
|
East |
|
|
|
|
A |
|
|
|
|
5 3 |
|
|
|
|
K 9 7 6 2 |
|
|
|
|
Q 10 9 8 2 |
|
|
South |
|
|
|
|
9 8 3 |
|
|
|
|
10 8 6 |
|
|
|
|
8 4 3 |
|
|
|
|
A K J 4 |
|
|
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
--- |
--- |
--- |
Pass |
|
1 |
Pass |
2 |
Pass |
|
2 |
Pass |
3 |
Pass |
|
4 |
Pass |
4 |
Pass |
|
6 |
All Pass |
|
|
The 2
bid is forcing for one round, promising at least a limit raise.
Partner leads the Queen of Spades. Declarer wins the trick, and then
calls for the Ten of Clubs. What do you play and why? Assuming you
win this trick, what do you play next?
The answer next month. Those who want to express their opinion should contact the webmaster. I will try to mention all those who take the time to give me a thoughtful answer.
