Hand of the week 22nd February

20^th February Board 22

There maybe other hands worthy of the hand of the week but this hand was probably the most interesting.

E is dealer and holding the following:

S. AJ3

H. 74

D.  –

C.  KT876432

What do you open with this hand, a weak 3 level bid of 3C or is this hand too good for this bid. You could open 1C or even 5C.

Let’s assume that you bid is 3C because you are missing AQJ. S has a decision to make holding AQ of Cs, do they double holding 18hcp or just bid 3D with 6 cards, 3D is the probably best call.

W with 1 C and 8 S and 4 H should bid 4S hoping partner is holding top honours in C. Unfortunately N has other ideas as they have 7 D and no Aces bids 5D.

That is not the end of it as E can support partners Ss with AJ3 and void in D, should bid 5S.

Not done yet S should bid 6D as N at best only has 1 S or none and holding Aces in all other suits.

Lead should be JC which is right into S’s hand playing AC over E KC. No need to play Ds as you have 13 cards.

Play AH discarding 3H in Dummy and then TH intending to discard 9H if QH is not played, then play 8H to JH, play AH and discard a S from hand, cross to QC and then play your last losing S and ruff in dummy.

Why did I say it was the most interesting because you never have to lead a Trump before you can claim 13 tricks.