Bridge Quiz 3 Answer
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Declarer (W)
- 10 8 2
- A K 6
- K 9 6 2
- A K 2
      Dummy (E)
- A K Q
- Q 3
- A Q 5
- 9 7 6 4 3

Declarer can count 11 sure winners : the A, K and Q in Spades, Hearts and Diamonds, plus the A and K of Clubs. He therefore needs to develop one more trick.
He can find this extra trick in either Clubs or Diamonds.

  1. The Opponents have 5 Clubs, if these are divided 3-2 the extra trick is secured in Clubs.   (65% chance)

  2. Likewise the Opponents hold 6 Diamonds, if these are divided 3-3 Declarer can make his 12th trick with the 4th Diamond (♦9) in his hand.   (35% chance)

Based on statistics case a. above has a 65% chance of success.
Case b. on the other hand occurs only 35% of the time.
But you can try both, provided you try the Clubs first !
(Because developing the Clubs will require losing 1 trick.)

a.
Therefore, after winning the first trick with the ♥Q, play two rounds of Clubs winning with the ♣A and ♣K in Declarer's hand. If both opponents follow suit to the second Club trick their Clubs were divided 3-2 and only one Opponent has on Club left.
Declarer now plays his third and last Club (♣2) :

Declarer (W)
- 10 8 2
- A K ..
- K 9 6 2
- .. .. ..
♣2   >     ♣6 Dummy (E)
- A K Q
- .. 3
- A Q 5
- 9 7 .. .. ..

One of the Opponents will win the trick, but whatever they lead next, Declarer or Dummy will win the next trick, play out all his sure winners, ending in Dummy to make his 12th trick with the ♣9.


b.
If Declarer had found, when playing his second high Club (♣K), that one Opponent did not follow suit (their Clubs then being divided 4-1), he would have switched to Diamonds, winning ♦A and ♦Q in Dummy first (!), then cross over to Declarer's hand cashing the ♦K.

Declarer (W)
- 10 8 2
- A K ..
- .. 9 .. ..
- .. .. 2
♦K   <   ♦5 Dummy (E)
- A K Q
- .. 3
- .. .. ..
- 9 7 6 .. ..
If both Opponents follow suit 3 times Declarer's ♦9 will provide his vital 12th trick.

© 2013 Michael Furstner