Be My Valentine

As South, how would you play each heart contract?

1.	A K 8 2			West	North	East	South
Both vul	10 9 2						1
	9 7 5 3			Pass	2	Pass	Pass
	6 4			Pass
Lead: 6
	4 3
	A K J 8 4
	A 8 2
2 South	J 7 2

After winning the K, what do you do next? 

A. Lead the 4 to your jack B. Lead the 10 and let it ride C. Lead the 2 to the king

2.	9 7 5			West	North	East	South
None vul	A 7 2						1
	Q J 8 2			Pass	2	Pass	3
	9 7 2			Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: J
	A K 2
	K J 8 6 3
	4 3
3 South	A J 3

After winning the K, what do you do next? 

A. Lead the A and another spade B. Lead the 3 to dummy’s queen C. Win the A then finesse the J

Quit

Top Be My Valentine

3.	A K Q 9 3			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	K 8 5				1	Pass	2
	8 7 6 4			Pass	3	Pass	4
	3			Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: J
	J 4
	A 9 7 6 4
	Q 3 2
4 South	A 7 6

After winning the A, what do you do next? 

A. Ruff a club in dummy B. Cash the A-K then lead spades C. Duck a heart

4.	6 5 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	3			3	Pass	4	5
	K J 3 2			Pass	Pass	Pass
	A Q 8 7 6
Lead: K
	—
	K J 9 8 7 6 5 4
	A Q 8 4
5 South	2

After ruffing the opening lead, what do you do next? 

A. Finesse the Q B. Win A; lead a heart to your jack C. Win A; lead a heart to your king

Quit

Top Be My Valentine

5.	Q 10 8 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	A 7 4 2						2 NT
	3			Pass	3	Pass	3
	K J 6 5			Pass	6	Pass	Pass
				Pass
Lead: J
	A 4 2
	K 9 6 5
	A K Q 10
6 South	A 2

If the trumps break 3-2, what is the best play? 

A. Win the A and finesse the jack B. Lead the 3 and finesse the 10 C. Cash A-K-Q; ruff 10 if not good

6.	4 3			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	A J 10 9						1
	A J 3			Pass	2 NT	Pass	3
	Q J 10 9			Pass	4	Pass	4 NT
				Pass	5	Pass	7
Lead: 6				AP
	A K Q J 10
	K Q 3 2
	4
7 South	A 8 7

What now, sweetheart? 

A. Draw trumps; take the club finesse B. Draw trumps; run the spade suit C. Ruff a diamond

Quit

Top Be My Valentine

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek