YOU
open a 15-17 point 1NT and partner raises you to 3NT. How should you
play this contract when West leads the seven of spades to East’s
jack? Two spade tricks, four diamonds and three clubs will bring your
total to nine. If East holds K-x-x-x in diamonds, you will need to
take three finesses in the suit. To achieve this, you will need three
entries to dummy in the club suit. Lead the nine of clubs to the ace
at Trick 2 and play a diamond to the queen. When the finesse wins,
lead the eight of clubs to dummy’s king and play a diamond to the
jack. Now lead the six of clubs, playing dummy’s two, to set up your
third club trick. The defenders will win and doubtless clear the spade
suit (playing on hearts is no better for them). Feeling pleased with
yourself, you can lead the four to clubs to dummy’s five, giving you
a third entry to the dummy. A diamond to the ten will give you a total
of four diamond tricks, even if East started with four diamonds to the
king. Time to score up!
Answer
When responding to a
take-out double, you have two duties-to suggest a denomination and to
show the strength of your hand. Here you have a clear preference for
hearts, so the only problem is to determine the level of the response.
A jump response of 2H suggests around 8-10 points. You are fully
entitled to add a point or two for a five-card major suit, so 2H is
appropriate here. Such a response is in no way forcing and partner
will pass with a minimum double, even with a heart fit. AWARDS: 2H-10,
1H-6, 3H-5, 4H-3.
YOU
open a 15-17 point 1NT and partner raises you to 3NT. How should you
play this contract when West leads the seven of spades to East’s
jack? Two spade tricks, four diamonds and three clubs will bring your
total to nine. If East holds K-x-x-x in diamonds, you will need to
take three finesses in the suit. To achieve this, you will need three
entries to dummy in the club suit. Lead the nine of clubs to the ace
at Trick 2 and play a diamond to the queen. When the finesse wins,
lead the eight of clubs to dummy’s king and play a diamond to the
jack. Now lead the six of clubs, playing dummy’s two, to set up your
third club trick. The defenders will win and doubtless clear the spade
suit (playing on hearts is no better for them). Feeling pleased with
yourself, you can lead the four to clubs to dummy’s five, giving you
a third entry to the dummy. A diamond to the ten will give you a total
of four diamond tricks, even if East started with four diamonds to the
king. Time to score up!
When responding to a
take-out double, you have two duties-to suggest a denomination and to
show the strength of your hand. Here you have a clear preference for
hearts, so the only problem is to determine the level of the response.
A jump response of 2H suggests around 8-10 points. You are fully
entitled to add a point or two for a five-card major suit, so 2H is
appropriate here. Such a response is in no way forcing and partner
will pass with a minimum double, even with a heart fit. AWARDS: 2H-10,
1H-6, 3H-5, 4H-3.