Score 10 points 7

Since weird distributions require a special approach, you decide to open with a game bid on the South hand below. You have no idea whether your opening will turn out to be pre-emptive or a good contract (or both).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

West leads the ♦7 and dummy is a pleasant surprise: 4♠ is a good contract.

Make your choice by clicking A or B (or sometimes C) and find out whether your line of play is the correct one. EW do not make any mistakes.

A I win with the ♦A

B I play a small diamond in dummy.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A. Fair enough, since that ♦7 surely has written 'singleton' all over it. East follows suit with the ♦2 (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

A I play the ♠A

B I play the ♣6

C I play the ♥K

You have played a small diamond in dummy. East wins with the ♦K (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

East continues with a diamond. West ruffs and plays club to East's ♣A. Another diamond ruffs sinks the contract. Later the ♠K comes down under the ♠A but you are down one. 1 point.
Really, that ♦7 had written 'singleton' all over it, so you risked too much by ducking in dummy (by the way: the risk was totally unnecessary as well: West's ♦7 tells you he does not have the ♦K: from ♦K7(3)(2) West would have led the ♦2 or ♦3). Try again, go back.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2) and have played the ♠A next. EW follow suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

A I play the ♣6

B I play the ♥6 (East the ♥8), ruff in hand and play a trump, discarding the ♣6 in dummy (or the ♦5).

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2) and have played the ♥K next. East plays the ♥A (red cards have been played, South is still to play).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

A I ruff.

B I discard the ♣K.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2) and have played the ♠A next, EW following suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively. Next you have played the ♣6. East wins with the ♣A (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

Bad luck... East is the player you do not want in the lead. This is why: he will now play the ♦K and another diamond, west ruffing with a small trump. Later you will lose a trick to the ♠K as well and you are down one. At trick one you did spot the danger of the diamond ruff, since you did not finesse. You would have escaped it if West had had fewer than two small trumps (i.e. a singleton trump or ♠Kx): he could not have scored a small ruff then. Alas... Since you have not tried everything to escape the ruff, you score 3 points only.

Click here for the full lay-out.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2) and have played the ♣6 next. East wins with the ♣A (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

Bad luck... East is the player you do not want in the lead. This is why: he will now play the ♦K and another diamond, west ruffing with a small trump. Later you will lose a trick to the ♠K as well and you are down one. At trick one you did spot the danger of the diamond ruff, since you did not finesse. If only you would have cashed the ♠A first, you would at least have guarded against the (small) chance of West holding a singleton trump as well, apart from his singleton. Since you have not tried everything to escape the ruff, you score 2 points only.

Click here for the full lay-out.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2), next you have cashed the ♠A, EW following suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively. Next you have played the ♥6 (East the ♥8), which you ruffed in hand. Then you have played a trump, discarding the ♣6 in dummy. West wins with the ♠K, East discarding a heart (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

West now plays a club. East wins with the ♣A and continues with the ♦K and another diamond. West ruffs: down one. You have tried to draw as many trumps as possible as quickly as possible to escape the diamond ruff. You had succeeded if West had had a singleton or doubleton in trumps or three small ones (East's bare ♠K then would have come down under the ♠A). Alas, West has three spades including the ♠K and on top of that East has the ♣A. (You also catered for the chance of East going up with the ♥A when you played the ♥6 from dummy, but remember: 'EW do not make any mistakes'). You did play rather well, but you could have done better still. 7 points.

Click here for the full lay-out.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2) and have played the ♥K next. East played the ♥A and you ruffed (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

A I cross to the ♠A (EW follow suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively) and continue with the ♥J.

B I continue with the ♣K.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2) and have played the ♥K next. East played the ♥A and you have pitched the ♣K.

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

After a good start, you went completely astray. You are letting in the 'dangerous' opponent: East now plays the ♦K and another diamond. West ruffs with the ♠4. Later you lose a trick to the ♠K as well, down one. The way you played, the only lay-outs in which the ruff would not have harmed you, are the bare ♠K and ♠Kx in West. You should realise why you made that (good) play of the ♥K. 4 points since you started well.

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You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2), played the ♥K, ruffed East's ♥A, played a spade to the ♠A (EW following suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively) and played the ♥J from dummy. East plays the ♥2 (red cards have been played, South is still to play).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

A I ruff.

B I pitch the ♣K.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2), played the ♥K, ruffed East's ♥A, played a spade to the ♠A (EW following suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively), played the ♥J from dummy and when East produced the ♥2, you ruffed (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

A I play a trump, discarding the ♣6 in dummy (or the ♦5).

B I play the ♣K.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2), played the ♥K, ruffed East's ♥A, played a spade to the ♠A (EW following suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively), played the ♥J from dummy and when East produced the ♥2, you pitched the ♣K (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

You have played perfectly. You have effectively severed communications between East and West. West wins with the ♥Q but cannot get his partner in the lead in order to get a diamond ruff. West will try a small club, but you ruff and play a trump to the ♠K, whoever has it. If it is East, West is now out of trumps. In this case it is West, East discards a heart. Again West is powerless: you ruff the heart or club he plays back, draw his last trump and have only the ♦K still to lose. 10 well-deserved points.

Click here for the full lay-out.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2), played the ♥K, ruffed East's ♥A, played a spade to the ♠A (EW following suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively), played the ♥J from dummy and when East produced the ♥2, you ruffed. Then you played a trump, discarding the ♣6 in dummy (or the ♦5). West wins with the ♠K, East discarding a heart (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

West now plays a club. East wins with the ♣A and continues with the ♦K and another diamond. West ruffs: down one. You have tried to draw as many trumps as possible as quickly as possible to escape the diamond ruff. You had succeeded if West had had a singleton or doubleton in trumps or three small ones (East's bare ♠K then would have come down under the ♠A). Alas, West has three spades including the ♠K and on top of that East has the ♣A. You did play rather well, but you could still have done better. To be precise: why did you ruff that ♥J...? 6 points.

Click here for the full lay-out.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2), played the ♥K, ruffed East's ♥A and played the ♣K. East wins with the ♣A (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

Bad luck... East is the player you do not want in the lead. This is why: he will now play the ♦K and another diamond, west ruffing with a small trump. Later you will lose a trick to the ♠K as well and you are down one. At trick one you did spot the danger of the diamond ruff, since you did not finesse. If only you would have cashed the ♠A first, you would at least have guarded against the (small) chance of West holding a singleton trump as well, apart from his singleton. The way you played, the only lay-outs in which the ruff would not have harmed you, are the bare ♠K and ♠Kx in West. You should realise why you made that (good) play of the ♥K. Why didn't you follow up on that plan? Since you have not tried everything to escape the ruff, you score 3 points only...

Click here for the full lay-out.

You have won the opening lead with the ♦A (East the ♦2), played the ♥K, ruffed East's ♥A, played a spade to the ♠A (EW following suit with the ♠6 and the ♠3 respectively), played the ♥J from dummy and when East produced the ♥2, you ruffed. Next you have played the ♣K (red cards have been played).

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

Bad luck... East is the player you do not want in the lead. This is why: he will now play the ♦K and another diamond, west ruffing with a small trump. Later you will lose a trick to the ♠K as well and you are down one. At trick one you did spot the danger of the diamond ruff, since you did not finesse.
You should realise why you made that (good) play of the ♥K and the ♥J later. Why didn't you follow up on that plan? To be precise: why did you ruff that ♥J? After all, that was inconsequent... Since you have not tried everything to escape the ruff, you score 4 points only.

Click here for the full lay-out.

This is the full lay-out:

S/All		♠	A
		♥	K J 6
		♦	A 10 9 8 5
		♣	10 8 7 6
♠	K 4 3			♠	6
♥	Q 7 5 4 3			♥	A 10 9 8 2
♦	7			♦	K 3 2
♣	Q 9 4 3			♣	A J 5 2
		♠	Q J 10 9 8 7 5 2
		♥	-
		♦	Q J 6 4
		♣	K

West leads the ♦7.
EW have the ♦K, ♦7, ♦3 and ♦2, so West can have led that ♦7 from a doubleton (♦73 or ♦73) or it may be a singleton. Since West will not have led the ♦7 from ♦K7(3)(2), East is sure to have the ♦K. Therefore declarer wins with the ♦A, not risking a diamond ruff in trick two.
Since he is fairly certain to lose three tricks (to the ♦K, the ♠K and the ♣A), he cannot afford a diamond ruff.
There is a standard remedy against ruffs by the defenders...

So declarer draws trumps as quickly as possible?

He may play: ♠A, heart ruff and then the ♠Q. All is well if either:
- The ♠K is bare or:
- The trump suit is 2-2 or:
- West has a singleton trump or:
- If West has three spades to the ♠K, West has the ♣A as well: East will not gain the lead in order to give West a diamond ruff.

But what if West has three spades to the ♠K and East has the ♣A...? West wins the second trump trick, plays a club to East's ♣A and gets his diamond ruff after all.
Can declarer make his contract on that lay-out?

Severing communications

Yes, South can most often prevent East from gaining the lead with the ♣A, by discarding the ♣K on a card West will win. Therefore at the second trick declarer plays the ♥K from dummy. The idea is to discard the ♣K if East follows suit with a small heart. West is welcome to win the trick, after which he has lost communication with East.
In practice East covers the ♥K with the ♥A. South ruffs and plays a spade to the ♠A. Next he repeats the effort: he plays the ♥J. This time East plays a small heart: at last South gets rid of his ♣K and EW are powerless. West wins with the ♥Q but South ruffs any continuation and plays the ♠Q:
- If East wins with the ♠K, declarer is sure West is out of trumps.
- If West wins with the ♠K and East shows out (if East follows suit, the trump suit was 2-2, no problem), South will again ruff any continuation, draw West's last trump and lose only one more trick, to the ♦K.