Test Your Play

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1. IMPs. No one vulnerable.
♠ K Q J 2
♥ K Q 4
♦ A 7 5 3
♣ 3 2
♠ 4
♥ A 7 6 3
♦ K J
♣ A K Q 8 5 4
 

West North East South
1NT Pass 6♣(!)
All Pass

West leads the ♥J. Plan the play and try to be specific.

CLICK HERE FOR SOLUTION
♠ K Q J 2
♥ K Q 4
♦ A 7 5 3
♣ 3 2
♠ 9 8 7 3 ♠ A 10 6 5
♥ J 10 9 ♥ J 8 5 2
♦ 8 2 ♦ Q 10 9 6 4
♣ J 10 7 6 ♣ 9
♠ 4
♥ A 7 6 3
♦ K J
♣ A K Q 8 5 4

To get full marks, win the ♥A at trick one (key play) as you will need two heart entries to dummy if clubs break 4–1. Cash the ♣A K Q, discarding a diamond or a spade from dummy. If clubs are 3–2, drive out the ♠A and claim.
If either opponent has four clubs, you have to fi nd the ♦Q with East and hearts 3–3. Not good, but some chance is better than no chance. Cross to a heart and lead a diamond to the jack. Assuming it wins, cash the ♦K, cross back to a heart and discard a spade on the ♦A. If hearts are 3–3, you are home.
If the player with four clubs has four hearts, your best chance is to hope that East has dropped the ♠A on the floor and will play low when you lead the ♠K so you can discard
your losing heart. Don’t hold you breath.

2. IMPs. None vulnerable.
♠ 5 3
♥ K Q 5
♦ K Q J 10 5
♣ 10 8 4
♠ A K Q J 10 8
♥ 9 4 2
♦ 9 3
♣ K Q
 

West North East South
1♣ 1♠
Pass 2♦ Pass 3♠
Pass 4♠ All Pass

West leads the ♣2 (standard). East wins the ♣A and shifts to the ♥J. You win in dummy and play the ♦K which holds, West playing the 2, standard count. East has three spades, West two. Plan the play from here.

CLICK HERE FOR SOLUTION
♠ 5 3
♥ K Q 5
♦ K Q J 10 5
♣ 10 8 4
♠ 9 6 ♠ 7 4 2
♥ 8 7 6 3 ♥ A J 10
♦ 8 7 2 ♦ A 6 4
♣ 9 6 5 2 ♣ A J 7 3
♠ A K Q J 10 8
♥ 9 4 2
♦ 9 3
♣ K Q

East is known to have three spades and three diamonds and figures to have three hearts and four clubs given the lead. If East had four hearts and three clubs, the ♣2 would not have been the opening lead and if East had five clubs and two hearts, it is unlikely he would have shifted to the ♥J from the ace–jack doubleton at trick two, though it would have been a great play.
Play all your spades but one to leave this five-card ending:

♠ —
♥ K 5
♦ Q J
♣ 10
♠ — ♠ —
♥ 8 7 ♥ A 10
♦ 8 7 ♦ A 6
♣ 9 ♣ J
♠ 8
♥ 9 4
♦ 3
♣ K

Keep in mind you presumably know which five cards East has, so he’s kept (a) the hand in the above diagram or (b) ♠ —   ♥A 10   ♦A   ♣J 7.
If East has reduced to (a), cash the ♣K and get out with a diamond forcing East to present you with your 10th trick by either exiting a diamond or cashing the ♥A, setting up dummy’s king.
If East has reduced to (b), cash your last spade discarding a club from the table. East must discard a club. Now cash the ♣K, discarding a diamond, and exit a diamond forcing East to lead away from the ♥A 10.
If East has shifted to the &heats;J from the ace–jack doubleton, you are (1) probably going down and (2) in way over your head.
Thanks to Tim Bourke, Australia, for this one.