Playing standard "fourth-best" leads, West leads the
2
against your 3NT contract. East follows with
the queen and returns the
4
after you follow low. You play the eight and
West wins the jack to return the
9,
East's six, and your ace.
What is the distribution of the heart suit? Is there a so-called "dangerous
opponent?" How many tricks do you need in
the club suit? Plan your play.
Both vulnerable South deals
|
West |
North |
East |
South |
|
|
|
|
1NT |
|
Pass |
3NT |
End |
|
Opening
Lead:
2
West's
2
is very revealing; if the lead was honest he
can't have more than four hearts and may
have only three. If the suit is four-four,
neither opponent is threatening. If West has
three hearts, however, his partner has five,
so it may be fatal to allow East to gain the
lead.
With eight tricks on top, you need only one extra trick from the club suit.
With a two-way finesse available in that
suit and entries a bit of a problem, it is
more convenient to play West for the queen.
Indeed if four club tricks were needed for
the contract, it would be best to do so.
Here, however, you have the luxury of
keeping the dangerous player off lead. When
you attack clubs, play a club to the ace and
a club to the ten.
If West disappoints you by winning the
Q and
returns a spade you will encounter danger of
a different ilk, for the
K is still in your
hand, blocking the suit for you.
But because you foresaw this possibility and cashed the
AKQ
before playing clubs, you have an effective
countermove. Win the
A,
discard the blocking
K
on the
J,
and cash the jack-nine of clubs for nine
tricks.
The 4
hands were: