Page 1     North
10 9 8
K J 2
K Q J 7 4
5 3
 
    West
A 6 4 3
10 6 5
A 8
Q J 10 4
      East
 
 
 
 
      South
 
 
 
 
 
 
"THE BIG BUILD UP"
 
  South West North East  
  1 Pass 2 Pass  
  2 Pass 3 Pass  
  4 Pass Pass Pass  
 
     North has too much to give a simple 2S raise so bids their Diamonds first. West leads the Queen of Clubs.  

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Page 2     North
10 9 8
K J 2
K Q J 7 4
5 3
 
    West
A 6 4 3
10 6 5
A 8
Q J 10 4
      East
 
 
 
 
      South
 
 
 
 
 
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
You lead the QC, 3 from Dummy, East plays the 2, and declarer the 9. What do you lead to the next trick?
 


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Page 3     North
10 9 8
K J 2
K Q J 7 4
5
  Bid is 4S      
  N/S =0
  E/W=1
 
 
 
    West
A 6 4 3
10 6 5
A 8
J 10 4
      East
 
 
 
 
      South
 
 
 
 
 
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
  Well it's kind of obvious you need to start up the Hearts. South probably has the other 2 Aces for their bids (and also because East played a discouragingly low Club on your Queen). So you're hoping East has the Queen of Hearts.


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Page 4     North
10 9 8
K J 2
K Q J 7 4
5
  Bid is 4S      
  N/S =0
  E/W=1
 
 
 
    West
 
 
 
 
      East
 
Q 9 x x
 
 
      South
 
 
 
 
 
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
  The problem is that if you lead a low Heart, East won't know whether to go up with the Queen or play the 9 and risk losing to the 10. So it's obvious you need to lead the 10 of Hearts. Dummy covers with the Jack, East the Queen and Declarer the Ace.
 


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Page 5     North
10 9 8
K 2
K Q J 7 4
5
  Bid is 4S      
  N/S =1
  E/W=1
 
 
 
    West
A 6 4 3
6 5
A 8
J 10 4
      East
 
9 x x  
 
 
      South
 
8 x
 
 
 
 
PLAY OF THE HAND
       
  Now you're in the driver's seat. Since you have those two Aces you will be able to get in twice and lead Hearts twice to set up East's carefully preserved 9.


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Page 6     North
10 9 8
K J 2
K Q J 7 4
5 3
 
    West
A 6 4 3
10 6 5
A 8
Q J 10 4
      East
x
Q 9 x x
10 x x x
K x x x
      South
K Q J 7 2
A 8 x
x x
A x x
 
 
SUMMARY OF THE HAND
       
  In all you will get the QC, AS, AD, and 9H for down 1. In this hand it's important to "build up" a trick early on while you still have the sure entries with your Aces so that you can lead Hearts twice.
  Leading the correct 10 of Hearts at trick two finishes Declarer. If you lead a low Heart instead, Dummy plays low, East plays the Queen, Declarer will get the Ace, and then the King and Jack are both good.


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Bidding 4 Spades is Game. Simple Raises. Hand #10