Advanced Movie 3F33 by Richard Pavlicek

Diamonds In the Ruff

	2 A 3 2 K Q 10 9 8 K Q 4 3

What is your opening bid? _____

That was easy. Partner responds 1  and your opponents will pass throughout. What is your rebid? _____

This shows five-four shape in the suits you bid. It would be wrong to rebid 1 NT with a singleton spade. Partner surprises you next with a jump to 3 . Now what? _____

Your hand is undesirable to bid notrump, and slam is a possibility. This shows the ace since there is no reason to bid a real heart suit on this auction. If you held a heart stopper such as K-J-x, you would bid 3 NT. Showing the ace allows partner to bid 3 NT if desirable, but he continues with 4 . What next? _____

Partner’s hand must also be undesirable for notrump. He is showing the  A, and slam is imminent so take control with Blackwood. Partner answers 5 . Now what? _____

Of course. Partner passes. Make this slam and you win the event!

West leads the  Q, and partner has about what you expected. This is what you see:

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

How many top tricks? _____

If you ruff two hearts in dummy, how many tricks would it gain? _____

If instead you ruff three spades in your hand, how many tricks would it gain? _____

Which of the above plans (ruffing spades or hearts) is better? _____

The reason is because the fifth spade will be good with a 4-3 split, then you won’t depend on a 3-3 club break. After winning the  A, what do you lead first? _____

For sure! You must start this suit while dummy has plenty of entries. West plays low, North the 10 and East wins the jack. East returns a trump, you play the 10 and West follows. In which hand do you win this trick? _____

Definitely! All your trump spots are equal so this is a free choice (assume you won the jack). What do you lead now? _____

Both opponents follow and you ruff. You next lead the  K and West sheds a heart. Which diamond do you play from dummy? _____

Flashy! Of course, you could have led any diamond as long as you won it in dummy. This is what’s left:

	Q 9 4 — 7 6 A 8 2
	— 3 2 Q 9 K Q 4 3

Which card do you lead? _____

Both opponents follow (the  K drops) and you ruff. What do you lead next? _____

It is better to take this slight risk now (before East is able to discard a club) and you win the ace. What do you lead now? _____

What else! You ruff and the  A falls. What next? _____

You ruff this in dummy. Careful now! What do you lead? _____

Well done! This draws East’s last trump, and you cash the good  Q to ensure your slam.

The E-W hands:

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

Answers