Establishing Side-Suits

 

Setting up the side-suit in a suit contract is a common theme, and it's often right to do so early in the play, using the trump suit for communications between the two hands.  Associated themes are Trump Control and Entry Management.

 

Related Play Problems          Play Problem 21

                                                Play Problem 35

                                                Play Problem 46

                                                Play Problem 88

                                                Play Problem 217

 

31	♠ 7 ♥ AQ7 ♦ K73 ♣ KQJ743	7th December, 2011
♠ AJ842 ♥ 963 ♦ AQ4 ♣ T5	North West             East           South	♠ 53 ♥ T2 ♦ JT862 ♣ A862	Dlr     South Vul     N-S
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ KQT96 ♥ KJ854 ♦ 95 ♣ 9	West    North   East     South                                     Pass Pass    1♣       Pass    1♠ Pass    3♣       Pass    ??

 

On this hand, South bids 3♥ (at least 5-5 and enough for game) and North goes to 4♥.

 

4♥ is not the world’s best contract, but it makes if Declarer follows the time-honored advice about setting up the side-suit early in the play:

            Win the Heart lead in hand

            Club to the King and East’s Ace

            Diamond to West’s Ace

            Diamond to Dummy’s King

            Cash ♥A

            Ruff a Club

            Cross to Dummy’s ♥Q

Now the Clubs are run and the defense scores the ♠A at the end.  10 tricks.

 

 

4	♠ A953 ♥ T9743 ♦ AQ8 ♣ A	From 6th January, 2010
♠ 42 ♥ 52 ♦ K92 ♣ JT7432	North West             East           South	♠ T6 ♥ AQJ ♦ T7653 ♣ KQ8	Dlr     West Vul     Both
© BES, Inc  All Rights Reserved	♠ KQJ87 ♥ K86 ♦ J4 ♣ 965	West    North   East     South Pass    1♥        Pass    1♠ Pass    3♠        Pass    4♠ Pass    Pass    Pass

 

Against 4♠, let’s say that West leads a Club.  Best play for Declarer is to go after Hearts immediately, and on the actual lie of the cards this allows 11 tricks to be made without resorting to the Diamond finesse.  So, it will come as a deep disappointment for South to discover that the Diamond finesse works and that 11 tricks are also available via inferior lines of play.

 

© BES, Inc

All Rights Reserved