Hand 52 — Enough points for 3NT
Play this handThe Deal
North
♠
Q J 7 2
♥
9 8 3 2
♦
6 4
♣
J 10 4
West
♠
10 8 4
♥
10 6
♦
A K J 5
♣
K 9 8 3
East
♠
A K 9 3
♥
K Q
♦
9 8 3 2
♣
A 6 2
South
♠
6 5
♥
A J 7 5 4
♦
Q 10 7
♣
Q 7 5
North: 4 HCP, 4-4-2-3 (bal)
East: 16 HCP, 4-2-4-3 (bal)
South: 9 HCP, 2-5-3-3 (bal)
West: 11 HCP, 3-2-4-4 (bal)
Bidding Sequence
| W | N | E | S |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pass | Pass | 1NT | Pass |
| 3NT | Pass | Pass | Pass |
Final Comments
In no-trumps we count our winners
2 spades
1 heart
3 diamonds
2 clubs
That is 8 tricks, and 1 short of our contract.
We need to finesse the diamonds through dummy, for the 9th trick.
Leave this finesse until the last possible moment because if it loses, there will be a cascade of hearts played out.
If the finesse fails, play out the clubs and hope that they break 3/3
If we play the diamons first, we will not have an entry back for the 4th club. So we need to test the clubs before we play out the diamonds.
As the cards lie, the clubs are 3/3 for an extra trick, and hooray! the finesse works, so we make our contract with an overtrick.
Planning
Always ask at least 2 questions.
1. do we have a fit (8 of the same suit between us), and
2: do we have enough points for game.