Hand of the week - 12th July 2026

Today I am going to review this hand from the S interpretation of what they are hearing and seeing.

E passes. S opens 1C and wonders where all the D are.

 W bids 3H, showing 7 card suit and 6-10hcp. S now knows partner has 0 - 2 cards in H. Also if they average the hcp in W hand as 8 then add their hcp of 17 and total is 25, so only 15hcp between N and E, but where there is one long suit there is always another.

N bids 4D. S has now found the D so it must be a long suit, but how many cards. Probably 6 or 7.

E passes. Can’t support partner’s H so is weak.

Decision time for S. They are holding the 3 off suit Aces to partner’s bid, 17hcp and KD. Partner must hold 1 or no cards in H, probably 7 cards in D and 5 cards split between S and C,  in which S holds 4/4. S is assuming N holds A Q in D. Bid 5D.

E is on lead and leads 2H, which Dummy wins with AH and plays KD and W plays a H, no D. Therefore E holds 5. E wins with AD. E does not lead a H as they now have none but leads a S which is won in Dummy with the AS.  N plays a S from dummy which they ruff in hand.  The make-up of Ns hand was a singleton in both S and H, 7D and 4C.

N must lead trumps until they lose to 9D and no matter what E leads N can ruff and play out their winning C.

Only losing 2D and contract making.