HAND OF THE WEEK - 24th August

Getting to a 4H game contract is very easy, S with 11hcp and a 5 card H suit will bid 1H, W will pass, N with 15hcp and 4 card H support will bid 3H but should bid 4H.

Just about everybody made 4H, nobody made 5, so where is the missing trick. There were various opening leads but let’s assume that W leads 4^th best of a 4 card suit, which is D, so 7D lead, which is won by E with KD, low D back to W which is won with AD and play QD which is ruffed by S.

Before playing Hs, S assesses what gaps they have in Hs and finds QJ32 are missing. S leads 7H towards his A K of H. W plays 2H and S plays AH from dummy and E plays JH. Was that card a singleton,  as E should play low. Is it worth the gamble and assume it is or was it JH from QJ, if it was I would play Q rather than J.

Irrespective you can see 4H is making so it is worth going for the extra trick as it could give you a top board.

Play JC to AC in hand and then lead lowest H towards dummy, why lowest. To start you held T9876, all equal value. Once W plays their 3H then play low from dummy and you are then pleased to see E play an off suit. Then lead towards dummy dropping the QH. At this point you can claim remains tricks. Making 5 tricks in H.