Exercise 2T77 Main

Sink Declarer’s Ship!

by Richard Pavlicek

As East, can you find the defensive plays to defeat these contracts?

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

West leads the J. Which diamond do you play?

South drops the K. Who has the Q?

Assuming declarer has five solid trumps, how many top tricks does he have?

Which suit will allow him to develop two more?

Which side suit offers the only chance for you to set the contract?

Which card do you lead at trick two?

The missing hands:

7 6
J 9 6
J 10 9 7 5
6 5 4 Table
A K Q 8 5
10 8 2
K Q
8 7 2

Quit
Top Sink Declarer’s Ship!

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

West leads the 10; North plays low. Your play?

South wins the J and leads the 3; West plays the 2. Do you win it?

Do you take your ace on the second club lead?

When you win the A, which card do you lead?

South wins the ace and leads the Q; West plays the 4. Do you win it?

When you win your K, which card do you lead?

The missing hands:

K J 10 6
10 9 8 7
4 2
8 7 2 Table
A Q 8 7
A J 2
A Q 10 3
5 3

Quit
Top Sink Declarer’s Ship!

3. 6 5 2 West North East South
E-W vul K 10 9 1
K Q 7 2 Pass 3 Pass 6
A J 3 Pass Pass Pass
Table K 8 3
3 2
J 8 6 4
6 South K Q 10 9

West leads the Q. Which spade do you play?

South wins the A and leads three rounds of hearts as West discards the 2. How many top tricks does declarer have?

What is your first discard?

Declarer leads a fourth trump; West throws a club, and dummy a spade. Your discard?

Declarer leads a fifth trump; West throws a club, and dummy a spade. Your discard?

The missing hands:

Q J 10 7
6 5
10 3
8 7 6 4 2 Table
A 9 4
A Q J 8 7 4
A 9 5
5

Quit
Top Sink Declarer’s Ship!