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| SUIT COMBINATIONS |
Suit Combinations Adrian Thomas ANSWERS SUIT COMBINATIONS
1. AQxx opposite Jxxx for no losers. The only layout that will achieve this is that South holds precisely Kx onside so lead small to Q and then cash ACE. Do not lead J from East hand as this will create a certain loser even when KX is with South, as long as they cover
2. KJxx opposite Qxx for 3 tricks. If the suit breaks 3-3 it doesn't matter how you play you will make 3 tricks. If either North or South has Axxx, if they defend correctly, that is not going up with Ace unneccessarily, you will only make 2 tricks. However if the suit breaks 4-2 the extra chance you can give yourself is if South holds Ax. To take advantage of this lead towards KJxx and when one of them holds return to dummy in another suit and lead small towards West hand again. If North has Ax you are never in practise going to get this right as playing small towards Q first and then small from both hands means you have peaked first as this loses 2 tricks whenever suit is 3-3
3. A opposite J10xxxx for 4 tricks. Cash the ace return to hand and lead small, that is do not play the J or the 10 first. This play gains whenever North or South has either Qx or Kx precisely as their honour will go on air. Return to hand and then lead the J or 10. If suit breaks 3-3 this play does not cost and if either N or S has HHxx you will lose 3 tricks.
4. AJxx opposite K109x for no losers. This is a catch, there is no correct answer, opposition bidding or twitches may help you get it right or wrong.
5. AJx opposite K109xx for no losers. This is different as if you start with the K and South has Qxxx you will still lose to their Q.The % play therefore is to lay down Ace and then run the Jack.Note starting with 10 and running it straight away would pick up Qxxx with S but is an anti % play.
6. AKxx opposite Jxx for 3 tricks. Correct % play is to cash ACE and then small towards the Jack
7. Qxxx opposite AK98x for 0 losers. Correct technique here is to always start with the Q as if S has J10xx they will always come to a trick.
It is only if NORTH has J10xx that you can do something about it, that is start with the QUEEN
8. K95 opposite AJ8xx for 1 loser. Correct play is to cash Ace and then lead small and inset 9 if south follows. If South instead shows out rise with K and lead small towards J. this play guarantees you 4 tricks as long as the suit does not break 5-0
9. 10xx opposite AK8xx for 1 loser. Correct is to play Ace and if either hand produces an honour lead small to 10.The tendancy is, if you see an honour appear, to be greedy and cash King trying for 5 tricks in the suit. Cashing ACE and leading towards 10 produces 4 tricks when either N or S has H9xx and also when N holds HHxx.If South has HHxx they will always make 2 tricks.
10. KJx opposite A9xxx for 1 loser. Correct is to cash K, return to East hand in another suit and lead small towards the J, this again guarantees 4 tricks, 1 loser whenever suit breaks no worse than 4-1, as in Number 8
11. xxx opposite AQ10xxx for 1 loser. Cash Ace and then lead small from West hand towards Q. This works on any break, even 4-0 with North for 1 loser,except when S has KJx or KJxx and you can do nothing about this anyhow.
12. AKJx opposite xxx for 1 loser. Cash AK and then return to East hand and lead small to wards the Jack. This works on any layout except Q10xx or worse with North, and nothing works then.
13. 7xx opposite AK98x for 1 loser. Correct play is cash A and then lead small towards 7, catering for any 3-2 break and singleton Q,J or 10 with South
14. Kxx opposite AJxx for 1 loser. This is no 14 in another form and is a very common type. Cash Ace and then K and lead small towards J
15. A10xx opposite KQ9xx for no losers. This should become very easy, starting with is very basic with K copes with a 4-0 break either side
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