Count Me In!

As South, answer each question about the play.

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

You play low from dummy and the Q wins. Surprisingly, West shifts to the 7 at trick two.

Which diamond do you play from dummy? 

2.	K 8			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	5 3 2						1 NT
	A Q 10 4			Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
	K 8 5 3			Pass
Lead: 3
	A 2
	A 10 7 4
	K 5 3
3 NT South	A 7 6 4

East plays the 10 and you win the ace. You next lead a club to the king (both follow) then a club to the ace, on which West pitches a heart.

What is West’s shape? 

Do you Finesse for the J or play to Drop it? (F D) 

Quit

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

You allow West to win the first two tricks with spade honors, as East (void in spades) pitches two hearts.

How many hearts do you think East began with? 

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

East wins the A and shifts to the 9, which goes to the jack and king. You next lead a heart to the king, on which West pitches a club.

What is East’s shape? 

After drawing trumps, which card will you lead? 

Quit

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

You capture East’s 9 with your 10. You next lead the K, on which West plays the jack and East the four.

Which opponent will you finesse for the Q? 

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

You capture East’s Q with your ace and lead a spade to the king (both follow). On the next spade East plays the 10.

What is West’s shape? 

Do you Finesse for the Q or play to Drop it? (F D) 

Quit

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© 2011 Richard Pavlicek