The Wrong Suit

West led the ♠A and another spade. East followed with the ♠10. On the second round, South won the second spade in the hand and led the ♦3. West hopped up with ♦A and continued with third spade. The diamonds broke badly to set up, so South was held to four spades and on trick in each of the other suits. 

South should have attacked clubs. South is sure of getting three club tricks by overtaking dummy’s ♣10 on the second round of clubs, In fact, South may end up with nine tricks. He chose the wrong suit and made a wrong move. 

Life is not about all the wrong moves you made. Life is about the one right move that made all the difference. 

Blog          : http://www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

It's a bit sticky

West led the ♦5. East played the ♦J and continued with the ♦A which South ruffed. South cashed the ♠A and ♠K. The fortune was with the South — both opponents followed and only ♠J was at large. 

Now, South should play a heart to the ♥K, East would win and would play a diamond which South would ruff and play the ♣A and ♣K just in case East has a singleton or doubleton ♣Q. South could make an overtrick. If West has the ♣QXX, the best West can do is win a third club and exit a heart to dummy. Now, all South has to do is return to his hand with a spade and take his remaining clubs. It’s a bit of a sticky deal. 

During history lesson, the teacher briefly went through the Kings and Queens who rule countries. “But,” the teacher continued, “There is a higher category of power; can anybody tell me what it is?” 

One child blurted out, “Aces!”

Blog          : http://www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

Defensive Problem

Three more days and Dussehra will be celebrated all over India. It’s observed on the 10th day of Navaratri and is a celebration of the victory of Lord Rama over the demon Ravana. The triumph of good over evil. 

Today’s deal is a defensive problem. West leads the ♠2, dummy plays low and South takes the  ♠Q. South almost surely has the  ♠J, from both his bidding and his failure to put up dummy’s  ♠K on the first spade. 

South must have a long, strong clubs since he bid 3NT with such few high cards. After clubs are established, he may have nine winners, East can lead the  ♠A and a third spade to set up West’s fourth spade, but East-West will come to only four defensive tricks that way. 

To beat 3NT, South must shift to the  ♥K at trick two. If South takes the  ♥A and starts the clubs, East should duck twice and win the third club. South’s hand is dead, and he will take at most eight tricks. 

Above deal courtesy ‘Apro’ Dara. We are awaiting his arrival from Washington DC. 

‘The important thing is to teach a child that good can always triumph over evil’.

Blog          : http://www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora

The Danger Hand

The month of October is here. Hope with it come the cool chills of the North as they make way for winter!

West leads the ♠7, East the ♠10 and South wins the ♠J. South must play the diamond suit first. He  hould play the ♦2 to dummy’s ♦A and another diamond towards his ♦9 in hand. South has five sure tricks outside of diamonds, so South needs only four tricks from the diamonds to make his game. South knows from the lead and East’s play to the first trick that West has the missing spade honors. Knowing that West holds the ♠AQ makes East the danger hand. It’s East and not West who can hurt South if he gets the lead. South’s play should be to keep East off lead. Simply finesse diamonds through East. When West shows out, South can claim 10 tricks. Nothing in the entire world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity!

Blog          : http://www.hemadeora.blogspot.in

Twitter ID  : @HemaDeora