Board 04

Board 04

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

Dealer:

West

Vuln:

All

W N E S
1NT Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 3NT End

Contract:

3NT by West

Lead:

K

East tries to find a heart fit, but West ends in 3NT.

Declarer needs two tricks from clubs. This will be fine unless South has both missing honours. If South holds just one of them, then two tricks are available, but South will get the lead after the first finesse, so declarer should hold up A for one round in case North started with five spades. (Quite likely, since he knows we have four of them.)

After taking the second spade round, declare leads a low club to the ten. South wins with the jack and returns a spade. Opponents take their spade winners, but now declarer can play another club finesse (at the first opportunity) by leading low to the queen. This makes, because North holds the king.