October 2017 - 61

Advanced Players

Solutions to Test Your Play
Start by ruffing the club (first
key play!) and leading a low heart
at trick two (second key play!).
As West is marked with the ♥A, he is
now faced with a choice of evils. He can
rise with the ace, presenting you with
12 tricks (seven diamonds, two hearts,
two spades and the ♣A) or he can play
low and lose his ♥A as you discard the
♥Q on the ♣A.
The lead of a low heart in this type
of position is called the Morton's
Fork Coup. West is damned if he does,
damned if he doesn't. In any case, the
better play is for West to duck the ♥A
in the hopes of getting two spade tricks.
Ah yes, spades. This suit has to be
tackled for one loser, given a likely 4-1
spade break, West having the length, of
course. First things first: The clubs and
hearts must be stripped. When in dummy with the ♥K, cash the ♣A, pitching the ♥Q from hand, and ruff a club,
stripping that suit. Then enter dummy
twice in diamonds to ruff hearts, strip-

Problems are on page 59.

ping that suit, and now, finally, you are
ready to attack spades!
Start by leading a low spade. If West
plays low, insert the 9. Even if it loses
to a singleton honor, East must surrender a ruff-sluff, eliminating your
second spade loser. If East has a spade
to return, spades were 3-2 so you are
OK.
Let's say when you lead a spade,
West inserts an honor, say the 10. Play
low. If East follows with a low spade,
West has to return a spade, and if it is
an honor, play low from dummy again.
If East follows, spades are 3-2, and
you can claim. If East shows out, win
the ace and lead low to the 9, picking
up the suit when West started with
Q-J-10-x. If, after winning the ♠10 or
whatever honor West has played, West
leads a low spade, stick in the 9, guaranteeing three spade tricks against any
4-1 spade division and your contract.
This spade combination is a good
one to tuck away.

Your best shot is to cash the
2. ♠A at trick two and then lead
the ♠9 to the jack, taking a fake
finesse, return to your hand with a
diamond, East following, and run the
♣Q. Assuming it loses (otherwise you
have 12 tricks), East is now on lead.
If he has no more spades, any lead he
makes gives you 12 tricks. If he leads a
diamond, chances are overwhelming
that diamonds are 3-3. If he fears leading a spade (lest you had a doubleton)
and leads a heart or a club, you get a
12th trick.
Let's say East has a spade and is brave
enough to lead it. Win in your hand (optional) and test diamonds. Assuming
West has four, test hearts by leading the
10 to queen and then cashing the ♥A K.
If the diamonds are 4-2 and the hearts
don't come in, you still have a second
club finesse. This comes to about 94%
assuming East is clever enough to get
out with a spade. If he isn't, or doesn't
have one, you are up to 100%.
◾

Call for nominations

➤ Mike's Advice
♠9 8 4 ♥A K ♦A Q 8 7 4 ♣K J 5
Pass. If partner has hearts or spades,
clubs will be as good as anything. Only
if he has diamonds will you regret being in clubs.
West

North

East

Dbl

2♦

Pass

South
1NT
?

♠8 7 ♥K J 4 3 ♦K J 3 ♣A K 10 6
Partner has diamonds and one of the
majors. The odds are that partner has
spades. Bidding 2♥ won't work if that
is true. Partner might have hearts, but
bidding 2♥ risks his bidding 2♠. Best
is to pass.

West

North

East

Dbl

2♥

Pass

South
1NT
?

This the one auction where you
might take liberties. Because you know
right now what partner's suits are, you
can bid something if you have a fitting
hand with good cards.
♠8 7 3 ♥K Q J ♦A Q J 7 ♣K 8 7
Pass. Be aware that partner may
have only four hearts. He might have
four hearts and five spades. Don't get
excited with your heart support.
♠K Q 10 3 ♥A K ♦K Q 3 ♣8 7 6 3
Bid 3♠. This fitting hand is terrific.
◾

Nominations are now being accepted
for the 2017 Goodwill Member of the
Year. This honorary title is given to
the ACBL member who has exhibited
unselfish dedication to the causes of
good conduct, worthy participation
and ethical behavior. Any unit/district
official in good standing may nominate a
candidate.
Please include the name of the candidate, contact information and why you
believe the candidate deserves recognition as the Goodwill Member of the
Year. Also, include your name, contact
information and unit/district affiliation.
A nomination form is available at acbl.
org/goodwillnominations, or send your
nomination to elections@acbl.org.
Nominations are open until Oct. 15,
2017.
October 2017 Bridge Bulletin

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of October 2017