West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | 1![]() |
Pass | 1![]() |
Pass | 2![]() |
All pass |
What would you lead as West from:
A K J 6
8 6 5 3
A
J 6 5 2
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | Pass | Pass | 1![]() |
3![]() |
Pass | Pass | 3NT |
All pass |
What would you lead as West from:
K 9
Q J 9 8 4 3 2
4 2
8 3
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | Pass | Pass | 1![]() |
2![]() |
Dble (1) | Pass | 5![]() |
Pass | Pass | Pass |
(1) 4+ spades, 6+ points
West leads the K: queen – jack – six. What should West play at trick 3?
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | --- | --- | 4![]() |
Pass | Pass | ? |
What action do you take as East with:
A K 9 6 5
---
K 9 8 5
Q J 9 2
The basic choices are 4 in a 5-3 spade fit. The advantages of double far outweigh the one disadvantage.
Part 2: The problem continues:
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | --- | --- | 4![]() |
Pass | Pass | Dble | All pass |
West leads the J: queen – king – four. How should East continue?
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | --- | 1![]() |
4![]() |
4![]() |
5![]() |
Pas | Pass |
Dlbe | All pass |
West leads the 6. What do you discard? What is your plan?
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1![]() |
1![]() |
? |
What would you do as East with:
9 3 2
10 9 6 4
5 3
A K Q 6
There is no good action for East. The hand is too weak for 2 and bidding 1NT with no stopper in the opposition suit is risky, too. You could pass, of course, but if South also passes and West re-opens with a double, what will you do then. The action with least risk, in my view, is 1NT and hope partner can produce at least one honour.
I chose a riskier move, 1 , showing four or more spades. I survived this little frolic and the bidding went like this:
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
1![]() |
1![]() |
1![]() |
Pass |
1NT | Pass | Pass | 2![]() |
All pass |
(1) Natural, long spades
West leads the K and this is what you see:
Declarer plays the A from dummy.
What card do you play on that?
Against 2 K and this is what you see:
Declarer plays the A from dummy.
What card do you play on that?
You should discourage the diamonds, since you much prefer a club switch. Play the 5 if you play reverse signals, high-hate.
Declarer follows with the 2: seven – queen – three.
How do you plan the defence from here?
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | --- | Pass | 4![]() |
4![]() |
? |
What would you do as North with:
Q 2
K Q 9 4
A Q 8 6 4
A 3
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | --- | 1![]() |
2![]() |
2![]() |
Dble (2) | Pass | 3![]() |
3![]() |
? |
(1) 4+ spades
(2) For takeout
What would you do now as North with:
6,4,2
Q,8,6,3
K,5
A,Q,9,6
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | 3![]() |
Dble (1) | Pass |
? |
What would you do as West with:
West | North | East | South |
---|---|---|---|
--- | --- | Pass | 1![]() |
2![]() |
Dble (1) | 5![]() |
? |
(1) Both majors, 6+ points
What would you do as South with:
A Q 8
6 4
A K Q J 10 2
7 4
Make your decision before reading on.
Today’s problem Part (2) (declarer play):
Let’s suppose you have chosen to bid 5 A and this is what you see:
Trick 1: CA: five – three – four
Trick 2: West shifts to the 8. What do you play from dummy?
I have only been doing the Daily Problem. It is excellent practice! I’ll send you more feedback as I get to explore more on the web site.
RonKlingerBridge.com is the web site of Ron Klinger, a world class bridge professional.