Dealer: W Vul: Nil
NORTH
♠ Q10653
♥ 2
♦ K6
♣ 98743
WEST EAST
♠ 4 ♠ AKJ2
♥ K109843 ♥ Q75
♦ A1054 ♦ J92
♣ K5 ♣ AJ2
SOUTH
♠ 987
♥ AJ8
♦ Q873
♣ Q106
Beginners are given more guidelines on declarer play than they can possibly remember until they have played for some time. Two of these guidelines are:1. keep your Aces for beating Kings and Queens 2. the player whose turn to play comes second should usually play a low card. On Board 18 from last Monday East/West winners, Peter Campbell and David Moran, showed the wisdom of these guidelines.
Peter and David reached 4H by East (Peter) courtesy of a bidding system that allowed the stronger hand to remain hidden, while the West hand became dummy. South led the three of diamonds, which showed either one or more honour cards or, very occasionally, a singleton. Peter didn’t waste dummy’s Ace but played low. When North’s King won, it looked likely that South held the Queen, which was now trapped. Playing the Ace would have allowed both the King and Queen to win. Declarer could win the next trick whatever North continued. Back on lead, the Queen of hearts is the logical continuation. South may as well use the Ace to beat the Queen, but must then hand the lead to declarer, who will win in hand. Now comes a key play, a heart is led towards dummy’s King-ten. If South plays low, declarer calls for the ten of hearts, followed by the King. If South plays the Jack, the King wins and the ten is promoted. North/South won only the Ace of trumps and the King of diamonds. Peter and David were the only pair to win eleven tricks in 4H.
Results, Monday 17/02/25 (5-table Mitchell): N/S N. Collins M. Simpson (61.2) 1; J, Nankervis P. Kelly (55.2) 2. E/W P. Campbell D. Moran (68.7) 1; L. Don T. Hinde (59.6) 2. Friday, 21/02/25 (5-table Mitchell): N/S N. Collins M. Simpson (57.9) 1; C. Duggan S. Goddard (55.4) 2 ; E/W L. Munson J. Nankervis (61.2) 1; N. Bonnell H. Price (57.5) 2.
