Dealer: N Vul: N/S
NORTH
♠ KQ109
♥ J75
♦ 85
♣ J976
WEST EAST
♠ A542 ♠ 763
♥ K4 ♥ A102
♦ Q964 ♦ AJ7
♣ 843 ♣ AKQ10
SOUTH
♠ J8
♥ Q9863
♦ K1032
♣ 52
3NT by East is the obvious contract for this board. To succeed in no-trump contracts declarer must not only keep track of declarer’s cards and dummy’s but must also take note of the defenders’ cards, particularly their discards. The path to 3NT on the hand above is for East to open 1C, West to reply with 1S and for East to jump to 2NT (invitational to game). West will happily raise the auction to 3NT.
Leanne Munson and John Nankervis scored a top on this deal when Leanne (East) received the lead of the two of diamonds from South, followed by the four from dummy (West) and the eight from North. East’s Jack won the trick. Leanne (East) could now count eight certain tricks. The ninth trick could come from diamonds, as North failed to produce the King. Declarer could now play the Ace, followed by the seven. South’s King will win, but dummy’s Queen is now good. North must find a discard. A club would hand declarer a fourth club trick, whereas a spade would remove West’s guard in that suit. In any case, declarer is now looking for an overtrick. When dummy wins with the Ace of spades (or the King of hearts, depending on South’s continuation), North has to discard again. If North has not discarded a club then declarer will need to play a small club from dummy to the ten in hand. That will be the tenth trick. Leanne and John scored 430 for ten tricks and a 100% result on this board.
Results, Monday, 04/08/25 (3-table Howell): N. Collins M. Simpson (56.7) 1; T. Hinde L. Don (53.3) 2. Handicap: C. Hall J. Loy 1; C. Duggan N. McGinness 2. Friday, 08/08/25 (4 & 1/2-table Howell): P. Kelly L. Don (60.3) 1; L. Munson J. Nankervis (57.6) 2; N. Bonnell T. Hinde (56.2) 3. Handicap: I. House G. Schmidt; P. Kelly L. Don 2.
