North’s
two jacks were likely to be of little value and he might have bid just
3H at his second turn. He went all the way to game, however, and West
launched the defence with three rounds of spades, East throwing a
diamond on the third round. How would you play the contract when West
switches to a trump at Trick 4? Show the deal around at your local club
and you will find a few players who answer: ‘It all depends on the
diamond finesse’. There is no need to rely solely on this chance.
After winning the trump switch in your hand, you should cash the ace and
king of clubs and ruff a club high. If your luck is in and the suit
breaks 3-3, you will play a second high trump from your hand. Should
trumps break 3-2, you can draw the last trump with dummy’s king and
throw your two potential diamond losers on dummy’s club suit. What if
clubs are 4-2, or trumps are 4-1? You have lost nothing by looking for
this extra chance. You can cross to the king of trumps and finesse in
diamonds anyway. It is always better to combine two chances rather than
rely on just one.
How will you rebid on this
hand?
Answer
You will see players rebid
3C on hands of this type but this is game-forcing and you cannot justify
such an action, particularly with a singleton in partner’s suit. It is
better to rebid 2C, after which you will have a better idea of partner’s
strength. If he merely gives preference to 2D, for example, you can bid
3D. Awards: 2C - 10, 3D -7, 3C - 6, 3NT - 5.
North’s
two jacks were likely to be of little value and he might have bid just
3H at his second turn. He went all the way to game, however, and West
launched the defence with three rounds of spades, East throwing a
diamond on the third round. How would you play the contract when West
switches to a trump at Trick 4? Show the deal around at your local club
and you will find a few players who answer: ‘It all depends on the
diamond finesse’. There is no need to rely solely on this chance.
After winning the trump switch in your hand, you should cash the ace and
king of clubs and ruff a club high. If your luck is in and the suit
breaks 3-3, you will play a second high trump from your hand. Should
trumps break 3-2, you can draw the last trump with dummy’s king and
throw your two potential diamond losers on dummy’s club suit. What if
clubs are 4-2, or trumps are 4-1? You have lost nothing by looking for
this extra chance. You can cross to the king of trumps and finesse in
diamonds anyway. It is always better to combine two chances rather than
rely on just one.
You will see players rebid
3C on hands of this type but this is game-forcing and you cannot justify
such an action, particularly with a singleton in partner’s suit. It is
better to rebid 2C, after which you will have a better idea of partner’s
strength. If he merely gives preference to 2D, for example, you can bid
3D. Awards: 2C - 10, 3D -7, 3C - 6, 3NT - 5.