Set Up That Suit!

Suit establishment is probably the most important technique in declarer play. Do you know the ropes? As South, answer each question. Do not be concerned about overtricks.

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

On the spade lead do you win Ace, King or Duck? 

What is the best play? 
 A. Lead the J and let it ride
 B. Lead the J to your king
 C. Lead the 3 and finesse the jack

2.	K 4 2			West	North	East	South
None vul	J 9 7 5 3					1	1
	K 8 5			Pass	4	Pass	Pass
	A K			Pass
Lead: Q
	A J 8 7 6 3
	A
	10 6 2
4 South	8 7 3

What is the chance (%) that the hearts will break 4-3? 

Who has the A? 

What is the best play? 
 A. Win the A-K and ruff a low heart
 B. Win the A-K and lead the J
 C. Win the A-K, A and ruff a club

Quit

Top   Set Up That Suit!

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

In which hand do you win the first trick? 

What is the best play? 
 A. Lead the 2 to dummy’s jack
 B. Lead the 3 to dummy’s king
 C. Lead the 3 to dummy’s ten

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

How will the missing spades usually break? 

…the missing diamonds? 

What is the best plan? 
 A. Try to establish the heart suit
 B. Try to establish the diamond suit
 C. Play for a crossruff

Quit

Top   Set Up That Suit!

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

How many trumps do you lead immediately? 

What do you do next? 
 A. Win the A-K and ruff a diamond
 B. Duck a diamond
 C. Win the A then duck a diamond

6.	2
None vul	8 7 4
	A 7 6 5
	A K 7 6 2
Lead: J
	A K 7 5 4 3
	A 2
	K 9 4 3
6 South	4

Auction not shown to protect the overbidders

How will the missing spades usually break? 

…the missing clubs? 

You win A and A-K to shed a heart. Now what? 
 A. Win the A and ruff a spade
 B. Win the A-K, A-K, ruff a spade
 C. Ruff a club

Quit

Top   Set Up That Suit!

© 1994 Richard Pavlicek