#7 Both Vulnerable
North East South West
1♣ 1♦ 1♥ Pass
1♠ Pass 1NT Pass
3NT AP
West leads the ♦3.
What’s South’s plan?
North (Dummy)
♠ A J 10 6
♥ K 2
♦ 9 5 4
♣ A K Q J
West East
♠ ♠
♥ ♥
♦ 3 ♦
♣ ♣
South (Declarer)
♠ Q 9 2
♥ Q J 5 4 3
♦ K 2
♣ 8 6 4
The ♦3 looks like a fourth best diamond lead. You two potential working suits are hearts and spades. As South, you have no “time” to drive out the ♥A. The opponents will take four diamonds and a heart. You do, however, have a chance if the ♠K is in West’s hand so take the spade finesse instead. This is an entry management hand. With no return entry to South’s hand, start with the ♠9 underplaying the ♠7. Then continue with the ♠Q underplaying the ♠10. Finally low to the ♠J. Notice if you play the ♠2 to the ♠J, there is no way back to South’s hand to repeat the finesse. Make the same play with J9x facing AQ10x. Start with the 9, not the J!
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