Bidding : (W)1♣ - 1♥ - 1NT - 3NT
Trick 13		North > 8♠
Declarer (W) ♠  K 9 2 ♥  A K 3 ♦  6 3 ♣  K J 9 6 4			?	Dummy (E) ♠  7 5 ♥  Q J 9 6 ♦  A K 2 ♣  A 10 8 3
		South

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Trick 13a		North > 8♠
Declarer (W) ♠  K 9 2 ♥  A K 3 ♦  6 3 ♣  K J 9 6 4	9♠		7♠	Dummy (E) ♠  7 5 ♥  Q J 9 6 ♦  A K 2 ♣  A 10 8 3
		Q♠ w South		Won : 11 Lost : 2

	North ♠  A 8 6 4 ♥  8 5 2 ♦  Q J 10 9 4 ♣  7
Declarer (W) ♠  K 9 2 ♥  A K 3 ♦  6 3 ♣  K J 9 6 4		Dummy (E) ♠  7 5 ♥  Q J 9 6 ♦  A K 2 ♣  A 10 8 3
	♠  Q J 10 3 ♥  10 7 4 ♦  8 7 5 ♣  Q 5 2 South
Declarer can count 8 sure winners (four in ♥, and two both in ♦ and ♣). Declarer's 9th trick can easily come from the ♣ suit at the risk of possibly losing the lead only once. With one more ♦ stopper in Dummy (after winning trick 1), North's (possible) 5-card ♦ suit will therefore not be a problem. The real risk to the contract is Declarer's unprotected K♠. If South gains the lead he can lead a ♠ so that Declarer's K♠ can be caputered if North holds the A♠. This can then result in four ♠ losers and a defeat of the 3NT contract. With nine ♣s in total and only the Q♣ missing, playing for the drop of the Queen is usually the preferred option. But in this case Declarer should not take that option. He must instead take the ♣ finesse in such way that if it loses it loses to North, not to South who in this scenario is the danger man. The crucial play is therefore leading the A♣ at trick 2, followed by the 10♣ for a direct finesse of South's Q♣. Regardless whether the finesse succeeds or fails the contract is then secured. Previous - Next