HOMEPAGE > QUIZ > HAND OF THE WEEK > WEEK 34

Dealer : East
Vuln : Both


HAND OF THE WEEK #34

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     North
    5 3 2
    A 10 8 6
    K 9 8 4
    J 5
West

J 9 7 5 2
Q 5
A K 8 7 6 4
East
Q J 6
K Q 4 3
J 10 2
Q 10 3
 

   South You
    A K 10 9 8 7 4
   
    A 7 6 3
    9 2

In the final of last summer's Grand National Teams,
Jeff Meckstroth (South) won the ace of hearts at
trick three and led a spade to his 10 when East
followed smoothly with the 6.

Here's an extra quiz question for you. Double-
dummy, can 4 be defeated (even if declarer
guesses spades)?

Answer: Well, after cashing the ace and king of
clubs, West can't play any more clubs and he
can't shift to hearts, because that gives declarer
his second entry to dummy. If hearts are never
played, declarer has only the king of diamonds
as an entry and East can safely split his spade
honors when spades are led. Or so it seems.
But ... suppose West finds the unlikely diamond
shift at trick three. Declarer can win in hand and
lead another diamond to the king. Then he leads
a spade. East must split, so declarer wins with
the king and leads a third round of diamonds.
East wins the trick and no matter what he leads,
declarer is back in position to take another
spade finesse.

West

2(1)
pass(2)

North

3
pass

East
pass
4
pass
 

South
1
4
 
 

(1) hearts and a minor
(2) after some consideration
Opening lead: A

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