Problem 04

04 – Working out the distribution

10 5 4 2
A 2
10 8 6
Q J 9 3
K Q 9 6 3
K 10 9 8 5
3
6 2
N
W   E
 
S
Q J 7 4 3
K Q J 9 4 2
8 7
A J 8 7
6
A 7 5
A K 10 5 4

Dealer:

East

W N E S
1 2
2 3 3 4
End

Contract:

4 by South

Lead:

3

(Partner's 3 shows exactly 4 cards, with unspecified point count.)

We paused to think about neither opponent bidding hearts, and worked out that that West's distriubution must be 5-5-1-2 and East's must be 0-5-6-2.

So, we know West's spades and East's diamonds exactly. We don't know where the heart honours are, but East's bidding was very weak for the distribution, so she may have only 9 points. The hands must be something like those shown.

Plan the play to guarantee ten tricks.