[mike777]

3. Equal vul……



2♠ X 3♠ 4♥

P 4♠* p 5♣

P 6♥ p



* Kickback.



KJ AKQx xx AKJTx

x 9xxxx AQx xxxx



A middle diamond is led to the King and Ace. You play the ace and king of trumps, all follow. Now what?





4. This was a key hand in the final of the Compacts……



1♠ 3♦*

4♠

· Limit raise



K8xx AQTx Jx xxx

AJTxx X KTxx Axx



Low spade to the Queen and Ace. Plan the play.

[SteveMoe]

For hand 1, the 2-2 trumps suggest playing for the drop in clubs (53%). You have enough entries to do so cautiously. Cash 1 top ♣ then go to hand in ♦ and lead toward the ♣ on the board. If the ♣Qxx is with RHO too bad. You are left with one deception - finesse or put RHO in with the ♣Q and hope they do not play a ♠ back. Otherwise play the other top ♣ if you see the third small card with LHO. You should be able to pitch your losing ♠ on the 5th ♣. Usually playing a ♠ for an open finesse of the Ace makes sense but not here - it is a practice finesse: even if it works it doesn't help you handle the ♣s.

For hand 2, avoid the ♥ finesse. Play low to the Ace and lead the ♦J for a finesse. Hopefully LHO has to play the ♣Ace. With one loser booked, ruff out the ♥ and ♦. You might get to pitch a ♣ loser from hand if the ♥K falls in 2 or 3 rounds. The key is to see 10 tricks are available with only one finesse (♦). The ♥ finesse adds unnecessary risk.