HOMEPAGE > QUIZ > SUIT COMBOS > WEEK 7

CARD COMBOS #7
     North
    A 10 2
    Q
    A 2
    A Q J 9 8 4 3
West
Q 8 5 3
A 2
8 7 6 5 4
K 6
East
K J 9 7 6
4 3
K Q 3
10 5 2
 

   South
    4
    K J 10 9 8 7 6 5
    J 10 9
    7

South
4

West
pass

North
6

East
all pass

 

 

The percentage play in clubs is to play a club to
the ace, and then the club queen for a finesse.
On this line, the suit sets up on four holdings:
the king of clubs singleton, doubleton or tripleton
in the East hand or singleton in the West hand,
plus singleton 10 in the West hand. If you take
a first-round club finesse through West, you win
on three holdings: when West has the king
singleton, doubleton on tripleton.

You might, however, forego the percentages in this
case, because West had the opportunity to shift to
a diamond. If he had, you would be forced to play
West for the doubleton king of clubs. If East-West
are experienced players, West will normally shift
to diamonds unless he holds the doubleton king
of clubs and wants to give you the opportunity to
take a ruffing finesse through East!

Nevertheless, West might have made a mistake,
trying to cash a spade trick. The correct answer
here is:

3. Lead to the ace and play the queen, but ruff it
if East doesn't cover.

This makes the slam when West was tricky and
on purpose did not shift to diamonds. And it also
makes the slam when West made an error and
East holds the singleton or doubleton king.

 

 

I wonder if East's
6 of spades at
trick one was a
count card, and
if West knew that,
and if South could
trust that West
knew that!



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