DECLARER PLAY PROBLEM #29
Rubber bridge
North dealer
Neither side vulnerable
| NORTH ♠ Q 6 2 ♥ A 7 4 3 ♦ J 10 6 ♣ A K 2 |
||
| SOUTH ♠ A 10 ♥ Q 6 5 2 ♦ A K Q 9 7 5 4 ♣ — |
| SOUTH | WEST | NORTH | EAST |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | 1 ♣ | Pass |
| 2 ♦ | Pass | 2 NT | Pass |
| 3 ♦ | Pass | 4 ♦ | Pass |
| 4 ♠ | Pass | 5 ♥ | Pass |
| 6 ♦ | Pass | Pass | Pass |
West leads the club jack.
Plan the play.
Solution
| NORTH ♠ Q 6 2 ♥ A 7 4 3 ♦ J 10 6 ♣ A K 2 |
||
| WEST ♠ J 9 8 7 ♥ K J 8 ♦ 3 ♣ J 10 9 7 4 |
EAST ♠ K 5 4 3 ♥ 10 9 ♦ 8 2 ♣ Q 8 6 5 3 | |
| SOUTH ♠ A 10 ♥ Q 6 5 2 ♦ A K Q 9 7 5 4 ♣ — |
RUFF OUT A FOUR-FOUR SUIT. South has eleven top tricks. The best chance for the twelfth trick is to draw two rounds of trumps, then lead to a low heart from dummy towards the queen. If East has the heart king, the heart queen will produce a twelfth trick; if West captures the heart queen with the king, declarer can still make the contract if the heart suit divides three-two; South ruffs the third round of hearts in the closed hand and eventally discards the spade ten on dummy's fourth heart.
As a small technical improvement, declarer should ruff the opening lead, draw two trumps, and discard two hearts on dummy's top clubs before leading a low heart to the queen. If West's king of hearts is singleton, that defender will be forced to lead a spade or yield a sluff-ruff when on lead.
(Based on a deal and analysis from the 1964 National Industrial Recreation Association Par-Hand Bridge Tournament by William S. Root and Lawrence Rosler.)
Our learning center web pages are dedicated to teaching the game of bridge. There are lessons for first-time players, as well as for those at the elementary and intermediate levels. You can find the appropriate section, and proceed through the lessons.
BEGINNER: Learn how to play bridge if you have never played before. The beginner lessons here are designed for those who know little or nothing about the game.
ELEMENTARY: If you understand the basics of the game, and are ready to proceed further.
INTERMEDIATE: Here is a collection of intermediate-level problems in bidding, declarer play, and defense for you to practice and improve your game.