Bridge with Bland: June

Playing at the ‘local dupe,’ this month’s hand finds the declarers in a tough, six-spade contract. ‘Staying in the hand,’ clear thinking and pinpoint execution will bring the contract home.

[the bidding]

N

E

S

W

« Opening lead: 2♣
« Cover the East/West hands and see if you can make the contract.

NORTH
♠ K Q 10 8
♥ 2
♦ A K 9 7 6
♣ A 10 5

WEST
♠ 9 7
♥ K J 10 9 7 3
♦ Q J 3 2
♣ 2

EAST
♠ 5 2
♥ 8 6 5 4
♦ 8 5 4
♣ K Q J 3

SOUTH
♠ A J 6 4 3
♥ A Q
♦ 10
♣ 9 8 7 6 4

[the play]
1. ♣ 2 is led, Ace from dummy, East the King, South the 4.
2. Declarer led the ♦ Ace from dummy and played 10 from hand.
3. The ♦ King is played and ♣ 6 from hand.
4. The ♦ 6 is trumped with the ♠ Jack.
5. ♠ 3 to dummy’s ♠ 10.
6. The ♦ 7 is trumped by South’s ♠ Ace, establishing dummy’s ♦ 9.
7. The ♠ 6 is led to dummy’s ♠ King. Much to declarer’s relief, ♠s were 2/2.
8. ♦ 9 is cashed, declarer discards another ♣.
9. ♥ 2 is led to declarer’s Ace.
10. South now made the key play. South played the ♥ Queen, discarding the ♣ 5, West winning the King.
11. With nothing left but ♥s, West led the ♥ Jack, and declarer sluffed dummy’s ♣ 10 while ruffing in hand.
12. South trumped the remaining ♣. Six bid and made.

[tip of the day]
Q| Kenny, I heard you congratulate your partner for ‘staying in the hand.’ What did you mean?
A| Staying in the hand’ means to keep playing to make your contract, staying focused, and concentrating even through adversity.