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♠ ♥ ♦ ♣ Quiz ♠ ♥ ♦ ♣

Expert Number 1

Expert Number 2

Easy Number 1

Solution: You must win trick 1 (you are worried about a club switch), Cross with a heart and lead a diamond (lead towards strength), Finessing (playing the 10♦ when West follows with a low card). Having won with the 10♦, you can work out it is almost certain that West has the K♦, so.... cross back with another heart and repeat the finesse, lead a low diamond and Finesse (play the J♦) when West follows with another low card. You can now count 8 diamonds have gone and you are looking at 4, so there is only one outstanding (the K♦). Cash the A♦ followed by the Q♦, followed by the rest of your winners, the high heart and the A♣.(See my handout on "finesses" for more details)

Easy Number 2

Solution: You must win trick 1 (you are worried about a diamond switch),(See my handout on "Rule of 7 " for more details) You can count 6 winners (♥AKQJ, ♦A and the ♠A) set up your 3 extra winners in clubs now, play clubs till the A♣ is taken, although, the defence can cash 3 spades to go with the A♣, you have the rest and make your contract. If you cash the ♥AKQJ, you will go down as the defence can cash the long heart ♥10 as well as the 3 spades and A♣. In No-Trump contracts it is usually right to put your sure fire winners to one side, forget about them and concentrate on making the extra tricks.

Medium Number 1

Solution: The key is to rise with the A♦ at trick 1 foregoing the finesse and preserving the precious 3♦ as means to communicate with your K♦. Put your 4 remaining winners(AK♠, A♣ and K♦) to one side and concentrate on making the 4 extra winners in hearts. K♥ first, but West will hold up till the 3rd round and switch to clubs. Rise with the A♣, come back to hand with the K♦ and cash your remaining 2 heart winners. Now cash your AK♠ and you have 9 tricks. My handout "Setting up a side suit" has more details.

Hard Number 1

Solution: The key is to win trick 1 and keep East the danger hand (you do not want a spade lead through your vulnerable J8♠) off the lead, you do not mind West being on lead, as, West on lead means you are last to play (your J8♠ stops them taking more than 1 spade trick), West is the safe hand. Cross with a heart overtaking the Q♥ with the K♥ and lead the Q♦, West will win and switch to a club, win A♣ remember to cash your remaining hearts (AJ♥), then follow with the J♦ and cash your remaining diamonds. This contract is almost 100% a 5-0 diamond break offside is the only thing which would endanger it. My handout " Avoidance Play" has more details.

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