Page 181 - Learn Bridge Ver2_Neat

a slow trick by power in hearts or a possible trick by position in the same
suit.
Manage the hand. We are going to win the lead in the short hand and
continue the suit winning 4 tricks and finishing in the North hand. Now
play a heart to the Queen. This loses but now we have 2 tricks in the suit.
Notice that we take this finesse early when all of our gates are guarded so,
if it loses, we can regain the lead quickly and make our tricks.
Play. Probably 10 tricks.

Hand 8.
Í J 10 8 2
Again West’s hand is not balanced and so he Ì J 9
opens 1Ì and after the 1Í response bids 2Ë. Ë A 2
This confirms 5+ cards in hearts and 4+ Ê 10 9 5 4 2
cards in diamonds. Í 7 Í A 6 5 3
Ì A K 8 7 5 Ì Q 6 4
Now East, responder, jumps to 3Ì showing
Ë K Q 8 7 Ë J 5 4
3 card support and 10-11 points. This invites Ê K 8 7 Ê Q J 6
the game which West duly bids. Í K Q 9 4
6 Ì 10 3 2
This is a trump contract and so we must 15 10 Ë 10 9 6 3
9 Ê A 3
keep C. A. L. M.
West East
Count our top tricks by power. 1 spade and 1Ì 1 Í
3 hearts. Total 4. 2Ë 3Ì
Add tricks from other sources. There are 2 4Ì All pass
possible tricks by length in hearts, There are
two slow tricks by power in each minor suit.
Loser check. Just the 2 minor suit Aces
Manage the hand. We are going to win the lead and draw the opponents
trumps (honours from the short hand first) and play on our minors.
Warning: do not even think about ruffing a spade at trick 2. If you do that
when the opponent win their minor suit Aces they are going to lead more
spades and you will run out of trumps.

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