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Third Hand Plays
Third hand plays high is axiomatic to good defence. However, when dummy has unplayed high cards, the third hand must be careful.
After ♦ 6, ♦ 2, you as East should play ♦ 9, retaining ♦ AQ to beat dummy’s ♦ J10, restricting declarer to one diamond trick ( ♦ K). Erroneously play ♦ A, and declarer can subsequently lead dummy’s ♦ J for a finesse of your ♦ Q, securing two diamond tricks.
Board Teams
North Deals
None Vul |
| ♠ |
A Q 9 6 5 |
| ♥ |
Q |
| ♦ |
6 5 3 |
| ♣ |
J 10 7 3 |
|
| ♠ |
10 3 |
| ♥ |
K 8 6 4 3 |
| ♦ |
K 9 7 2 |
| ♣ |
5 2 |
|
|
|
|
| |
| ♠ |
2 |
| ♥ |
9 5 2 |
| ♦ |
J 10 8 4 |
| ♣ |
A Q 9 8 4 |
|
|
| |
| ♠ |
K J 8 7 4 |
| ♥ |
A J 10 7 |
| ♦ |
A Q |
| ♣ |
K 6 |
|
| West |
North |
East |
South |
| |
Pass |
Pass |
1 ♠ |
| Pass |
4 ♥1 |
Pass |
4 N2 |
| Pass |
5 ♣3 |
Dbl4 |
5 ♦5 |
| Pass |
6 ♠ |
All pass |
|
- Splinter bid, showing a singleton (void) heart and a game raise in spades. North is minimum but knows (as a passed hand) partner won’t play him for much more than he has.
- Loves the singleton heart opposite, facing his length, so uses Roman Key Card Blackwood.
- One (or four) of five aces including the king of spades (playing “1430”, as many top players prefer).
- Lead-directing.
- Asking for the queen of trumps.
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There was a similar position in the club suit on this slam deal from the recent Bermuda Bowl quarterfinal in Lyon between USA 1 (favourites for the trophy) and dark horses Bulgaria.
The Bulgarian West led the five of clubs in response to East’s lead directing double of 5 ♣. Dummy played low and East played third hand high, the ace. He returned a second club, hoping West could ruff.
The USA declarer Bobby Levin won the king of clubs, drew trumps finishing in dummy and led the jack of clubs for a ruffing finesse. East covered with the queen, declarer ruffing. Declarer cashed the ace of hearts, ruffed a heart and led the promoted ten of clubs, discarding the queen of diamonds from hand. Twelve tricks and slam made.
Try making 6 ♠ if East refrains from playing the ace of clubs at trick one, instead inserting the eight, retaining his ace-queen-nine to beat dummy’s jack-ten-seven (don’t try too long — you can’t). After winning his king, declarer cannot generate a second club trick and must fall back on the diamond finesse (low to the queen). With West holding the king, that’s down one.
Although the USA won a handsome swing by making 6 ♠ on this Bulgarian misdefence, it was Bulgaria who won the match 239-226 and advanced to the semifinal.
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