West - deterred from leading a ♣ in the light of North’s 3 ♣ bid - led ♥ K. East encouraged by signalling with ♥ J so West continued with ♥ Q. East overtook with ♥ A, cashed ♥ 109, then switched to ♦ 2. South won ♦ J, led ♣ 6 to ♣ A, cashed ♠ A, crossed back to ♦ Q and cashed ♦ AK. Dummy’s last three cards were ♣ KQ5 but West had correctly kept ♣ J98 and discarded all his ♠s (though if he had held ♠ K he would have been “squeezed” - forced to let go of ♠ K or discard down to two ♣s). South led ♣ 10, covered by ♣ J and won with dummy’s ♣ Q. ♣ K was cashed but, at trick 13, West beat dummy’s ♣ 5 with ♣ 9. The contract had failed.
The villain of the piece was North. If he had not bid 3 ♣, West would surely have led ♣ 3 rather than ♥ K. In that case declarer, expecting ♣ J to be with the opening leader, would have played ♣ 4 from dummy, won the first trick with ♣ 10, and made 3 NT easily. When asked why he bid 3 ♣, North replied “I was hoping South would bid 3 NT”. In that case why didn’t North simply bid 3 NT himself - surely it would be an easier contract than 5 ♣?

ANDREW’S TIP: When you know the correct contract, bid it!

West led ♦ J and declarer won his ♦ Q and led ♣ Q. East won ♣ K and started to think. Should he return ♦ 8 - partner’s suit - or should he switch to ♥ Q? Eventually he led back partner’s suit. Declarer carefully won ♦ K - preserving ♦ A as a dummy entry. He led ♣ 5 to ♣ 8 and East won ♣ A. East switched to ♥ Q and declarer won ♥ K, crossed to ♦ A and enjoyed ♣ J109. ♥ A and ♠ A brought his trick tally to the required nine.
East thought at the wrong time. As soon as he had won ♣ K, declarer was home whether he returned ♦ 8 or ♥ Q. To defeat the contract East needed to duck ♣ Q. He wins ♣ 5 continuation but declarer needs two further entries to establish dummy’s ♣s and has only one - ♦ A. Declarer is held to only one ♣ trick - ♣ Q - and fails even if he establishes a second ♠ trick.

In effect East had three choices at trick two - to duck ♣ Q, to win and return ♦ 8, or to win and return ♥ Q. It is illogical to rule out one option - ducking ♣ Q - without thinking.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do your thinking about what to lead to the next trick before winning the last trick, not after. Perhaps it is wrong to win the trick at all!

After North correctly jumped to 4 ♥ - there was no need for him to introduce his ♣s as ♥s were definitely going to be trumps - South bid 4 NT. This was the Blackwood convention asking partner how many aces he possesses. North’s 5 ♥ reply showed two aces, and South hoped (reasonably) that the one missing ace would be his only loser. It would have been if East had stayed quiet…
Without East’s double, West would have led ♠ K. Declarer would have made his contract easily, losing just ♦ A. But all doubles of freely bid Slams should be played as “Lightner” - asking for an unusual lead. Frequently based on a void somewhere, it was clear for West to lead his longest suit.
West therefore led ♣ 9; East trumped and triumphantly cashed ♦ A to defeat the contract.

ANDREW’S TIP: The double of a freely bid Slam asks partner to find an unusual lead

West led ♠ Q and dummy and East played low, declarer trumping. Correctly resisting the temptation to trump ♦s, declarer realised that by far the easiest route to 12 tricks was to draw trumps then - assuming trumps split 2-1 - establish ♣s by knocking out ♣ A. He cashed ♥ Q and ♥ J then led ♣ 10. East ducked his ♣ A, then won ♣ 4 to dummy’s ♣ J. He had no sensible return so simply exited with ♣ 3. Declarer was able to enjoy dummy’s three established ♣s discarding ♦ 1086 from hand, trump ♠ 4, trump ♦ K with ♥ K, then table his remaining cards, all trumps.
Last week we saw that it was a mistake to double a Slam if you would be unhappy should the opponents remove themselves to an alternative contract. This week we see that holding two - even three - aces is not a good enough reason to double.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do not double a freely bid Small Slam on the basis of holding two - even three - aces.

West led ♦4 and declarer surveyed the mediocre dummy. With four obvious losers (three ♠s and ♥A) as soon as he lost the lead, he needed to risk the ♣ finesse. He won ♦Q and played ♣3 to ♣4 and ♣Q. When ♣Q won, he cashed ♣A, discarding ♠2 and led ♥10, losing to West’s ♥A. West cashed ♠AK - had he had the courage to have led a low ♠ his partner could have won ♠Q and played a second ♦ for him to trump; he then led ♠4 to ♠Q and declarer trumped. Declarer drew the remaining trumps and cashed his ♦s. Ten tricks.

West should have led ♠A - implying ♠K. East would have encouraged by playing ♠9 and so West would continue with ♠K and ♠4 to East’s ♠Q. West’s ♥A would take the setting trick.

ANDREW’S TIP: Defending a trump contract, generally lead ace from ace-king in preference to any alternative opening lead - including a singleton.

After South opened a Strong 2♠ North simply used the Blackwood convention, found South held all four aces - a 5♣ reply to 4NT shows either 0 or 4 aces - and “punted” the Grand Slam. How should South plan the play on ♥K lead from West?

South took stock before playing from dummy - admirable technique - and counted one ♥ trick, four ♦ tricks and one ♣; with no chance of any extra tricks in those suits, he thus needed seven tricks from trumps; that meant trumping two ♣s in dummy.

He won ♥A, cashed ♣A and trumped ♣6 with ♠9. He crossed to ♠10, East discarding a ♦, and trumped ♣7 with ♠K. He led ♠3 to ♠J, drew West’s two remaining trumps discarding two ♥s from dummy, cashed ♦A, overtook ♦J with ♦Q, and cashed ♦K and ♦10 discarding ♥3 and ♣8 from his hand. He took the last trick, his thirteenth, with ♠4. Grand Slam made.

ANDREW’S TIP: By counting your sure tricks outside trumps, you can plan how many trump tricks are required for your contract.

South, believing that his partner held genuine ♠ support - three cards - invited game with 3♠. This was an error. North was merely giving preference back to South’s first choice trump suit, holding equal length
.
3♠ was not a happy contract. West led ♣K then switched accurately to ♠4, trying to remove dummy’s trumps so that declarer could not trump ♥s. Declarer won East’s ♠Q with ♠K and led ♦4. West rose with ♦A, cashed ♣Q and led ♣3, to dummy’s ♣9, East’s ♣10 and declarer trumped. He now cashed ♠A and led a third ♠ hoping for an even split. Not so - West won ♠9, cashed ♠J, drawing declarer’s last trump (East discarding ♦5 and ♦J), then switched to ♥J. This ran to declarer’s ♥Q; he cashed ♥A and exited with ♥4. East won ♥10, cashed ♥K and his last card was ♣A. Declarer had scored just three trump tricks and ♥AQ - down four.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do not confuse genuine support with mere preference.

West cashed ♠AKQ then switched to ♣3. Declarer won ♣K and had to avoid losing a trick to ♥Q to make his game. The odds told him to bang out ♥AK and hope for ♥Q to fall. But after leading to dummy’s ♥K, he did not cash ♥A. Instead he crossed back to ♦A and led ♥J, running it successfully when West played ♥7. He then drew West’s ♥Q with ♥A. Why had he played against the odds?

The reason was quite simple. After following with ♥4 to the first round of trumps, declarer had noticed East re-sort his hand. This strongly implied he was now void of ♥s and was alternating the colours of the remaining suits in his hand.

Note that declarer is not allowed to stare at an opponent or his cards but he is allowed to notice such obvious movements as were made by East; and note that East is not allowed to deliberately mislead declarer by feigning a re-sort when he is not void.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do not re-sort you hand when you have run out of a suit or declarer may use the fact that you are void to his advantage!

North used the Blackwood convention (4NT) to ask for aces, and when his partner’s 5♦ response (one ace) revealed that all aces were present, he bid 5NT to ask for kings. South’s 6♠ response indicated possession of the three missing kings so North bid the Grand Slam.

West’s ♥10 lead ran to declarer’s ♥J and declarer cashed ♠K. East’s ♠J fell and declarer used PRC to deduce that West was now twice as likely to hold the adjacent card - ♠Q. Thus when he followed by leading ♠4 and West played ♠9, he crossed his fingers and inserted ♠10. East discarded a ♣ so he breathed a sigh of relief, cashed ♠A felling West’s ♠Q, and claimed his Grand Slam.

ANDREW’S TIP: When one opponent plays a critical card in a suit, play his partner to have the adjacent card in the same suit.

North used the Blackwood convention (4NT) to ask for aces, and when his partner’s 5♦ response (one ace) revealed that all aces were present, he bid 5NT to ask for kings. South’s 6♠ response indicated possession of the three missing kings so North bid the Grand Slam.

West’s ♥10 lead ran to declarer’s ♥J and declarer cashed ♠K. East’s ♠J fell and declarer used PRC to deduce that West was now twice as likely to hold the adjacent card - ♠Q. Thus when he followed by leading ♠4 and West played ♠9, he crossed his fingers and inserted ♠10. East discarded a ♣ so he breathed a sigh of relief, cashed ♠A felling West’s ♠Q, and claimed his Grand Slam.

ANDREW’S TIP: When one opponent plays a critical card in a suit, play his partner to have the adjacent card in the same suit.

West led ♥A and East remembered to signal with ♥9 to encourage a continuation. West duly played ♥K and carefully led ♥8 to the third trick - a “suit-preference signal” for partner - after trumping - to return the higher ranking of the other suits - here ♦s. If West had wanted a ♣ return, he’d lead his lowest ♥ to the third trick. Such signals are most useful in trumping situations - but only if partner is aware of them. Evidently this East was not, for after much agonising and mental coin-tossing, East returned ♣3. Declarer gratefully won ♣A, led ♠A, and cashed dummy’s ♣KQ discarding ♦10. Contract made.

West criticised East for failing to obey the suit-preference signal, but West had an idiot-proof defence - he should simply have cashed ♦A before leading the third ♥ for East to trump.

ANDREW’S TIP: A victorious defence is better than a victorious post-mortem!

After South correctly opened 1NT - 12-14 points - North raised to 3NT; there was little future in bidding ♦s as game in a minor suit is tough to make.

West led ♠8 to East’s ♠10 and declarer withheld his ♠A. East continued with ♠3 to ♠6 and West’s ♠9 and declarer won his ♠A perforce on the third round. He then led ♦K, felling East’s ♦Q and led ♦4 to West’s ♦7. Reflecting that East would not have played ♦Q unless he had to, declarer placed all the remaining ♦s with West. He played ♦9 from dummy and East discarded a ♣. Declarer then led ♦AJ drawing West’s ♦108 and enjoyed ♦53 and three ♣ winners. Ten tricks.

ANDREW’S TIP: If you open the bidding in a suit, you must make a second bid if partner changes the suit.

North-South have a good auction to 4♠ in which South shows six ♠s and a game-invitational hand with his 3♠ bid; North accepts the invitation with his golden ♠Q and West leads ♥Q.

Declarer plays low from dummy, you as East play ♥8 as an encouraging signal for partner to continue ♥s, and partner follows by leading ♥J. Declarer plays low from dummy a second time. Your play?

If you play low - allowing partner’s ♥J to win the trick - partner is likely to play a third ♥ hoping declarer has one more ♥ and you one fewer. That will be disastrous - declarer will trump, draw trumps in three rounds, and run dummy’s ♣s discarding all his ♦ losers.
You know you can defeat this contract - assuming declarer has more than one ♦. Simply overtake ♥J with ♥A and cash ♦AK.

ANDREW’S TIP: Consider things from partner’s point of view, and be prepared to take control if you know what to do and partner may not.

If West had mistakenly bid 2NT over South’s 2♦, East should raise to 3NT (2NT showing 17,18), a contract that would have drifted two or three down. He correctly passed 2♦, knowing his partner could bid on with a decent hand.

West led ♠J to ♠Q and East’s ♠K. East switched to ♣6 to ♣9, ♣Q and ♣4 and West played ♠7 to ♠A and East’s ♠2 return was trumped by West. West cashed ♣A and ♥A before playing ♥2 to ♥K. Declarer now correctly banged out ♦AK, felling ♦Q and just losing to ♦J. But two down was a handsome reward for West’s discipline in passing 2♦.

ANDREW’S TIP: If you are unable to make your planned Notrump rebid because of an intervening bid, Pass!

South was strong for his 2♥ overcall and his thoughts turned to Slam after his partner had jumped to 4♥. “If my partner holds ♣AK and either ♦A or ♠A……or if he holds ♣K, ♦A and ♠A…” South persuaded himself to ask for aces with 4NT. North’s 5♦ reply showed one ace; the partnership were missing two aces so South signed off in 5♥.
The defence was quick - West led ♠6 to East’s ♠A and East cashed ♣AK. He tried a third ♣ but West was unable to trump higher than dummy’s ♥10. Declarer drew trumps and claimed but was one down. Guilty of playing the “if game”, he should have paid off to the occasional perfect fit and passed 4♥.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do not play partner for perfect cards. As soon as you find yourself saying “If”, take the cautious route!

North’s 2♦ bid was “fourth suit forcing” and South’s 3♣ bid revealed the fifth ♣, enabling North to bid 5♣. West led ♦K and continued with a low ♦, South trumping East’s ♦A. With four top tricks in the major suits, he needed to score seven trump tricks to pull off a successful “crossruff”. To avoid the risk of a defender overtrumping with the ten and returning a trump, he took every precaution.

He cashed ♠AK, ♥AK, trumped ♥2 with ♣Q, trumped ♠3 with ♣J, trumped ♥3 with ♣K, trumped ♠5 with ♣A and trumped ♥5 with ♣6. East overtrumped with ♣10 but declarer claimed the last two tricks with ♣98.

ANDREW’S TIP: When the first three bids between a partnership are in different suits, a bid of the fourth suit shows a game going hand and asks partner to describe his hand further.

South’s jump rebid of 2♠ was game-forcing and showed at least five ♦s and at least four ♠s. North correctly gave “false preference” back to South’s first suit. South then bid 4♦ to see if his partner could cooperate in a Slam venture. North - still unable to pass as game had not been reached - made the weakest bid by raising to 5♦.
West led ♣5 to East’s ♣A and South trumped East’s ♣Q continuation. He crossed to dummy’s ♦10, cashed ♦Q and led ♠5 to ♠2, ♠J and West’s ♠K. West returned ♣K and South trumped, drew the last trump, led ♥Q overtaking with dummy’s ♥A, and led ♠9. East played ♠3, South ♠8 and West ♠6. ♠7 followed to ♠4 and South’s ♠10 won. The rest of his hand was high.

ANDREW’S TIP: A jump rebid in a new suit by Opener is forcing to Game.

South did not fancy responding in the cheaper four card suit - ♣s (see Tip). Had he done so, then the partnership might easily have declared 5♣ or 6♣ with disastrous consequences. After his 2♦ response, North gave jump support - his hand improving with the ♦ fit and the useful singleton ♠. South, who had fallen in love with his ♥K - honours in partner’s suits are always worth more than their point value - jumped to 6♦ and West led ♣5.
South won ♣A, played ♠6 to ♠A and trumped ♠8 with ♦3. He crossed to ♥K and trumped ♠9 with ♦6. He cashed dummy’s ♦Q, crossed to his ♦J, cashed ♦K drawing the last opposing trump, then led ♥8 to dummy’s ♥AQJ. Away went two of his three losing ♣s and twelve tricks were his.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do not bid bad suits on good hands.

South’s heart sank when his partner jumped to 5♦. Why, oh why, had he bothered to mention his second suit? He should simply have jumped to 4♥ over 1NT - he rated to lose no ♥ tricks even if his partner held a void. A 4♥ contract would make easily - six trump tricks, ♦A and ♣AKQ.

South played the 5♦ contract as carelessly as he had bid it. West led ♠K and continued with ♠Q, which he trumped. Needing a favourable trump split, he cashed ♦A, felling West’s ♦Q and East’s ♦9, and led ♦3. West discarded and East beat dummy’s ♦J with ♦K, cashed ♦10 and also ♠A - the contract was two down. South should have crossed to ♣A and trumped dummy’s third ♠ before leading a second round of trumps to restrict himself to one down.

ANDREW’S TIP: Do not bid a suit you do not wish to be trumps.

West sensibly chickened out of bidding 4♠ as he was vulnerable. It gave his partnership the chance to use the Suit Preference signal. Against 4♥ he led ♣2 - an obvious singleton from East’s perspective. East won ♣A and wanted West to underlead his ♠A - even though dummy only held a singleton. So he returned ♣9 - asking partner to return the higher ranking of the other suits (♠s and ♦s). West trumped and obediently led ♠2. East won ♠K and led another ♣. West trumped a second time and the defence had taken the first four tricks.

ANDREW’S TIP: When leading a suit for partner to trump, a high card asks for a return of the higher ranking suit, a low card asks for the lower raking suit.

West had crowded the auction sufficiently to jostle North-South into the inferior 5♣ contract. That would have failed by two tricks due to the unfortunate trump break. Was East content to write +200 (two down vulnerable) on his scorepad? No - he wanted every penny! East’s double sent a warning signal to North, with his bare ♣ suit. He wisely ran to his partner’s ♦s and West doubled with a shrug of the shoulders.

West led ♥A and continued with ♥K. Declarer trumped and led ♦7 to ♦5, ♦K and ♦2, and returned dummy’s ♦10 to ♦3, ♦8 and ♦A. West switched to ♠5 to dummy’s ♠A, but declarer trumped ♥J (avoiding returning to hand with ♣K which West would have trumped); he drew West’s last trump, ran his ♠KQJ and ♣AK. The doubled game was made.

East must have been kicking himself - he had been too greedy! The moral is clear….

ANDREW’S TIP: When the opponents are in the one contract you are confident of defeating, do not double or they may remove themselves to a contract you are not confident of defeating.

By rebidding ♠s, South guaranteed five cards. Yet because he would have opened 1♠ with five ♠s and five ♦s, his sequence showed six ♦s.

North felt justified in punting a Small Slam in the known nine card ♦ fit. His partner only had two cards between ♥s and ♣s - covered by his ♥A and ♣A.

West led ♥K against 6♦ and dummy’s ♥A won the first trick. Correctly seeking to establish ♠s before drawing trumps, declarer led ♠2 to ♠6, ♠Q and ♠10. The finesse having succeeded, he cashed ♠A and led ♠3. West discarded ♥2 and declarer trumped with ♦3. He trumped ♥4 and led ♠4, trumping with ♦7 when West discarded (♥Q). He cashed dummy’s ♦Q, cashed ♣A, trumped ♣2, drew the two remaining trumps and enjoyed his established ♠5. He had made all thirteen tricks!

ANDREW’S TIP: Opening the lower ranking suit then rebidding the higher ranking suit shows a five-six shape.

East’s 4♠bid may appear rash, but once the opposition have found a good fit, they will be unwilling to defend. South is likely to press on 5♥ - as here - and now the spotlight turns to West. Though he has undisclosed four card support for his partner’s suit, it would be a bad error for West to bid 5♠. In all probability his partner’s main motivation for bidding was to push the opponents up an extra level. West heeded this week’s tip and passed.

He led ♠6 to ♠10, ♠J and ♠A. Declarer drew trumps in two rounds and led ♣J. West won ♣A and had to decide whether the third defensive trick was coming from ♦K in his partner’s hand or a ♠ trick. He found the solution by leading ♦A and waiting for East’s signal. If East had played a low ♦ spot card, West would have led a second ♠ in the hope that declarer had a second ♠. In fact East encouraged with ♦9, so West led a second ♦ to East’s ♦K to defeat the contract.

ANDREW’S TIP: The five-level belongs to the opponents.

Yes - East’s 4♦ bid was unsound. But by sounding confident, his opponents had no idea his playing strength was so feeble. South naturally went on to 4♥ - how could he know that 4♦ would have gone four down?

East had put his head on the block to attract a ♦ lead against a ♥ contract and West duly obliged. His ♦9 opening lead was won by East’s ♦J; East cashed ♦A and continued with ♦K. If declarer had trumped with ♥9, West would have overtrumped with ♥J. But when declarer trumped with ♥Q, West simply discarded and waited to score two trump tricks later. His ♥J had been promoted into the setting trick.

Note that if East had kept quiet, West would surely have led ♣Q. Winning dummy’s ♣K, declarer would play ♠3 to ♠A, ♠7 to ♠J and cash ♠Q, discarding a ♦. His best play would then be to lead ♠K and discard his second ♦. He would lose just two trump tricks.

ANDREW’S TIP: Play bridge with confidence - especially when making a frisky bid!

West was correct to pass over 1♦ - to overcall 1NT would show 15-18 points and to overcall 1♥ would guarantee five cards. Against 5♣ it might appear attractive for him to lead ♠K - a sequence in the unbid suit. Had he done so declarer would win ♠A, play ♥Q to ♥A, trump ♥2 and lead ♠J. Assume West wins with ♠Q and switches to ♣2. Declarer wins with dummy’s ♣10, trumps a third ♥, leads ♠8 to dummy’s ♠9, and trumps dummy’s last ♥. He trumps a ♦, draws West’s remaining trumps and makes his twelfth trick with ♠10.

It is a different story on a trump lead. Declarer wins in dummy and leads ♠3 to ♠J. West wins ♠Q and plays a second trump. Declarer wins in dummy and plays ♠4 to ♠8. West wins ♠K and plays his last trump. Declarer can only trump one ♥ in his hand and makes 2♠s, ♥A and six trump tricks - two down.

ANDREW’S TIP: As a defender, lead a trump when you have a surprisingly good hand.

8

West led ♦6, dummy played ♦5 and you as East win ♦Q. And now?

Playing too quickly, you might table ♦A. If so, you have established declarer’s ♦J10 and dummy’s ♣ loser can be discarded. You must switch to ♣K at trick two. That way you are sure to take four tricks - ♥A, ♦AQ and ♣Q.

Declarer’s best counter on ♣K switch from East is to duck smoothly. If East sleepily continues with a ♣, declarer can finesse ♣J and discard dummy’s ♦K on ♣A. After ♣K is allowed to win, East should cash ♦A and wait for ♥A.

All the participants in my duplicate said they realised their error - cashing ♦A at trick two rather than switching to ♣K - a split second too late. There is no prize for defending a hand in under a minute. By taking a little longer you will become more adept at analytical thinking and thus to be a better (and quicker) player in the future.

ANDREW’S TIP: Take a split second before playing any card that is not completely routine.

7

West led ♠7, declarer played low from dummy, and East….. East had already made the reflex “third hand high” play of ♠J. Declarer won ♠K, drew East’s trumps finishing in hand, and played ♠3 to West’s ♠9 and dummy’s ♠10. When it held the trick, he was able to discard ♣Q on ♠A. He just lost two ♥s - trumping his third and fourth ♥s in dummy.
If East had not played ♠J at trick one, the contract would have gone one down. Could he have worked out to play low? The answer is an emphatic yes! West could not have both ♠K and ♠Q - or he would have led ♠K. There is no other holding where it could gain East to play ♠J, and plenty where it would lose heavily. Like the actual hand!

ANDREW’S TIP: Think before making the reflex play. When defending, work out partner’s possible holdings in the suit he has led.

I have seen players holding hands similar to South’s rebid 2♥ rather than 2♣. This is a bad error - especially bearing in mind that bidding two suits actually shows five cards in your first choice. The resulting 3♣ contract was a delight to declare - all other contracts would have fared horribly.
West led ♦Q and declarer won dummy’s ♦A, played ♥7 to his ♥A and trumped a ♥. He crossed to ♠A and trumped a third ♥ - noting the fall of West’s ♥K. He cashed dummy’s ♠K, trumped a third ♠ and led the master ♥Q. West trumped with ♣5 (his best play) and declarer overtrumped. He led and trumped dummy’s fourth ♠, East discarding a ♦; then led his fifth ♥, West discarding a ♦, which he trumped with ♣10. East overtrumped with ♣A, cashed
♦K, and returned a trump to West’s ♣K. Declarer took the last trick - his tenth - with ♣Q.

ANDREW’S TIP: Avoid minor suit games but not minor suits.

4

The reason North felt safe in supporting his partner’s ♣s with only three cards was that South had passed over East’s 2♥ bid implying a minimum opener, and was thus almost certain to hold five ♣s.
West led ♥6 and the defence played three rounds of ♥s, declarer trumping the third. If he had drawn all the opposing trumps at this point he would have gone down - with only one trump remaining and two aces to dislodge. Instead he led ♠Q at trick 4. West won ♠A but, with dummy trumping ♥s, played a second ♠. Winning dummy’s ♠K, declarer drew all the trumps, then forced out ♦A. He made his contract - as would 2♥ by the opposition.

ANDREW’S TIP: Play a minimum opener to have five + cards in the suit opened. (Assuming a Weak Notrump is being played.)

5

♦s and the optimum contract of 3NT was reached. West led ♣2 and declarer gratefully won ♣J. He was able to cash dummy’s six ♦s and the two top ♣s - an easy nine tricks.

Fascinatingly, only a ♦ lead defeats 3NT! Declarer wins in dummy and must try to establish a major suit trick. He leads ♥3 to ♥10 and West’s ♥K. West plays a second ♦ and now, severed from dummy, declarer must cash the ♦s immediately. He discards two ♣s and a ♥ but what does he discard on the last ♦? Try it out!
Note that 5♦ by North is completely hopeless. On a ♣ lead declarer loses ♠AK, ♥AK and ♣Q - three down.

Andrew's Tip: Avoid minor-suit games.

3

West correctly preferred to lead from his ♥ shortage than from his ♣ sequence. He led ♥8 - top card from a doubleton is standard practice enabling partner to know that you have none left after you follow with a lower card on the next round. Declarer won with ♥Q and led a low ♠. West rose with ♠A - essential - and led ♥6. Declarer won with ♥J in dummy and led a second trump. East won ♠K and led a third ♥. West trumped and the contract was defeated.

It may appear that ♣J lead to East’s ♣A and ♥10 switch would defeat the contract in a similar manner. But declarer can discard his third ♥ on dummy’s ♣Q and so avoid West trumping the third ♥.

ANDREW’S TIP: Lead from shortage when holding the ace of trumps.

2