Eight Ever… or Maybe?

How do you play K-3-2 opposite A-J-10-9-8? If you already have an answer, that’s too bad.
A card combination is only part of a deal — like a single tree is to a forest.
As South, test your skill on these six deals.

1.	4 3
None vul	10 9 4 2
	K 3 2
	A Q J 10
Lead: 7		East plays Q
	A 2
	A K 3
	A J 10 9 8
3 NT South	5 4 3

How many top tricks do you have? 

Which suit or suits offer a chance to succeed? 

What is the best play? 

A. Lead the J and let it ride. B. Lead the J to the king then finesse the ten. C. Lead the J to the king then win the ace.

2.	6 5 4 2
N-S vul	K 4
	K 3 2
	10 5 4 3
Lead: 6
	A K
	Q 3 2
	A J 10 9 8
3 NT South	A K 9

Which heart do you play from dummy at trick one? 

You win trick one. Which opponent is dangerous? 

What is the best play? 

A. Lead the 2 and finesse the jack. B. Win the K then lead the 2 and finesse the jack. C. Lead the J and let it ride.

Quit

Top Eight Ever… or Maybe?

3.	A K Q 2
E-W vul	Q 9 5 2
	K 3 2
	4 3
Lead: 5		East plays 9
	5 4 3
	4 3
	A J 10 9 8
3 NT South	A Q J

How many top tricks do you have? 

Which opponent do you wish to keep off lead? 

What is the best play? 

A. Lead the J and let it ride. B. Lead the J to the king then finesse the 10. C. Lead the J to the king then win the ace.

4.	A Q J 10
Both vul	Q J 10 9 8
	K 3 2
	6
Lead: 3
	K
	A
	A J 10 9 8
6 NT South	A K 7 4 3 2

How many top tricks? 

Which suits may provide the extra tricks you need? 

Assume you win the A. What is the best play? 

A. Duck a club; if clubs do not break 3-3, try the diamond finesse. B. Lead the Q and discard the A. C. Lead the 2 and finesse the jack.

Quit

Top Eight Ever… or Maybe?

5.	A K 10 5
None vul	J 7
	K 3 2
	10 5 3 2
Lead: K		East plays A
	3
	6 5 3 2
	A J 10 9 8
5 South	A K Q

East shifts to the J! How many hearts do you think West held originally? 

Who likely has the Q? 

What is the best play? 

A. Lead the 2 and finesse the jack. B. Lead the 2 to the ace then lead the jack and let it ride. C. Lead the 2 to the ace then lead the jack to the king.

6.	A 6 5 4
Both vul	8 7 6
	K 3 2
	J 4 3
Lead: 4		East plays A
	K 3 2
	—
	A J 10 9 8
6 South	A K Q 7 2

You ruff the first trick. Assuming normal defense, who has the K? 

…who has the Q? 

What is the best play? 

A. Lead the J and let it ride. B. Lead the J to the king then finesse the ten. C. Lead the J to the king then A.

Quit

Top Eight Ever… or Maybe?

1.	4 3		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None vul	10 9 4 2		1. W	7	3	Q	2
	K 3 2		2. E	6	A	5	4
	A Q J 10		3. S	J!	5!	K	4
K J 9 7 5		Q 10 8 6	4. N	2	6	A!	Q
J 7		Q 8 6 5		Cash 6 more winners
Q 5		7 6 4
9 8 6 2		K 7
	A 2
	A K 3
	A J 10 9 8
3 NT South	5 4 3

You have six top tricks and two chances for three more: the diamonds or the clubs. After the spade lead, you cannot take both finesses (if one loses, you are down) so the best way to improve your chances is to try to drop the queen of diamonds. If that failed, you could fall back on the club finesse as a last resort.

2.	6 5 4 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
N-S vul	K 4		1. W	6	K	7	2
	K 3 2		2. N	2!	4	J!	5
	10 5 4 3		3. S	8	3	K	6
J 8 7 3		Q 10 9	4. N	3	7	10	6
A 10 8 6 5		J 9 7		Cash 6 more winners
5		Q 7 6 4
J 7 6		Q 8 2
	A K
	Q 3 2
	A J 10 9 8
3 NT South	A K 9

Clearly, you must keep East off lead (to protect your Q) so you should finesse East in diamonds. Further, you should take a first-round finesse so that dummy can be reentered with the K to take it again. This proves to be necessary when East has four diamonds.

3.	A K Q 2		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
E-W vul	Q 9 5 2		1. W	5	3	9	Q
	K 3 2		2. S	J	5	2!	4
	4 3		3. S	10	6	3	7
10 8		J 9 7 6	4. S	A	Q	K	7
K J 6		A 10 8 7		Cash 6 more winners
Q 6 5		7 4
K 10 8 5 2		9 7 6
	5 4 3
	4 3
	A J 10 9 8
3 NT South	A Q J

The danger on this hand is the heart suit, not the clubs. If you lost a diamond trick to West, you might be defeated — West could switch to the J and sink your ship. Note that if the diamond finesse loses to East, it is impossible for East-West to cash four heart tricks on any lie of the suit.

4.	A Q J 10		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Both vul	Q J 10 9 8		1. W	3	A!	2	K
	K 3 2		2. N	Q	4	2	5
	6		3. N	J	6	A!	7
9 7 5 3		8 6 4 2	4. N	Q	K	3	4
7 6 5 4		K 3 2		Win the rest
7 5		Q 6 4
10 9 8		Q J 5
	K
	A
	A J 10 9 8
6 NT South	A K 7 4 3 2

I tried to fool you here. You have nine top tricks, and if you worked on either diamonds or clubs (or both) you might be set. The foolproof line of play is to unblock your A on the second spade, then force out the K to guarantee 12 tricks.

5.	A K 10 5		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
None vul	J 7		1. W	K	7	A	2
	K 3 2		2. E	J?	3	2	A
	10 5 3 2		3. N	K	4	3	6
7 6 2		Q J 9 8 4	4. N	2!	4	J!	6
K Q 10 9 8 4		A	5. S	5	Q	J	8
7 6		Q 5 4	6. W	10	K!	9	6
8 6		J 9 7 4	7. N	3	5	10	7
	3			Win the rest
	6 5 3 2
	A J 10 9 8
5 South	A K Q

The early play indicates a blank A with East. Your best chance is to ruff one heart in dummy (with the K) and finesse East for the Q. In order to pick up Q-x-x you must take a first-round finesse.

6.	A 6 5 4		Trick	Lead	2nd	3rd	4th
Both vul	8 7 6		1. W	4	6	A	8
	K 3 2		2. S	J	4	K!	5
	J 4 3		3. N	2	7	A!	6
Q 9 7		J 10 8	4. S	2	5	J	8
K J 5 4 3		A Q 10 9 2	5. N	3	9	A	6
Q 6 4		7 5	6. S	K	Q	4	10
6 5		10 9 8		Win the rest
	K 3 2
	—
	A J 10 9 8
6 South	A K Q 7 2

If you finesse either way for the Q, your chances are about even money. Instead you should play for a 3-2 trump break (about 68 percent) which secures 12 tricks. Eventually, you will ruff a spade in dummy.

Study 4A23 Main

Top Eight Ever… or Maybe?

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek