Exercise 6F53 Main

Bad Trump Breaks

by Richard Pavlicek

Fill in the missing North-South calls and answer each question.

1. J 7 6 4 3 West North East SOUTH
None Vul Q
K 9 5
K 9 8 4
Table 2 ¹ 3
Lead: J East plays K
Pass Dbl All Pass

10
A 5 4
A 7 3 1. Michaels (both majors)
5 × South A 7 6 5 3 2

How many trumps do you think East has?

Assuming the above, how many tricks can you easily win?

What is your plan: Coup, Elopement or Throw-in?

Which card do you lead at trick two?

Assume East wins and leads the Q. Do you win the ace or king?

Which suit do you lead next?

Which suit will you lead when you are in dummy?

If East ruffs at any time, what will you discard?

Exercise 6F53 Main Top Bad Trump Breaks

2. A K 5 West North East SOUTH
N-S Vul 7 4
A Q 4 3
9 8 5 4
Table Pass Dbl¹ Pass
Lead: 8
Pass Pass

Q 4 3
A K 10 9 6 3 2
9 6 1. takeout
4 × South 6

Which opponent do you think has trump length?

Assuming the worst trump break, how many tricks can you easily win?

What is your plan: Coup, Elopement or Throw-in?

Which diamond do you play from dummy at trick one?

Assume East wins and leads the J. Which spade honor do you win?

On the A East shows out. What do you lead next?

If the play goes as expected what will be your last three hearts in hand?

Which heart do you lead?

Exercise 6F53 Main Top Bad Trump Breaks

3. A Q 2 West NORTH East South
None Vul K Q 7
3 3
A Q J 10 9 8
Table Pass Pass
Lead: K East wins A and leads Q
Dbl All Pass

K J 6
A 10 9 8 6
8 6 4 2
6 South K

You ruff the Q and cash K-Q to find East started with J-x-x-x.

Did East defend well with his early plays?

What is your plan: Coup, Elopement or Throw-in?

If West followed to second diamond, how many red cards did East start with?

Which card do you lead at trick five?

Which card do you lead next?

East discards a spade. Which card do you play from your hand?

Which suit do you lead next?

Exercise 6F53 Main Top Bad Trump Breaks

1.	J 7 6 4 3		`West`	`North`	`East`	`SOUTH`
None Vul	Q
	K 9 5
	K 9 8 4
			2 ¹		3
Lead: J		East plays K
			Pass		Dbl	All Pass

	10
	A 5 4
	A 7 3		1. Michaels (both majors)
5 × South	A 7 6 5 3 2

2.	A K 5	`West`	North	`East`	SOUTH
N-S Vul	7 4
	A Q 4 3
	9 8 5 4
		Pass		Dbl¹	Pass
Lead: 8
		Pass	Pass

	Q 4 3
	A K 10 9 6 3 2
	9 6	1. takeout
4 × South	6

3.	A Q 2		`West`	`NORTH`	`East`	`South`
None Vul	K Q 7
	3				3
	A Q J 10 9 8
			Pass		Pass
Lead: K		East wins A and leads Q
			Dbl		All Pass

	K J 6
	A 10 9 8 6
	8 6 4 2
6 South	K