All in the Family

My first bridge partner (in 1965) was my older brother, Paul. He is quite a good player and plays more than I do these days. Occasionally, he comes across a deal that might be good for this column, and this one qualified. With both sides vulnerable, you hold:

42

KJ2

Q6

AQJ1093.

Playing matchpoints, RHO opens a 15-17 1NT. Paul had no systemic way to show clubs on the two level, so he ventured 3 which bought the contract. West led the A:

8763  A109  J543  82

42  KJ2  Q6  AQJ1093

West continued with the K and another spade. Your plan?

You have 4 top losers (AK in each pointed suit). All of the missing points are marked with East (the 1NT opener).

With successful finesses in hearts and clubs, you can make your contract (unless East has more than 3 clubs). How do you manage the entries?

This was the Real Deal:

Vul:Both Dlr: East	8763  A109  J543  82
AKT  8753  10982  64		QJ95  Q64  AK7  K75
	42  KJ2  Q6  AQJ1093

Did you make all the necessary entry-management plays? The first trap is to keep your 3. If you trump with it, you will soon be doomed. When you get to dummy for a club finesse, you won't be able to lead and run dummy's 8.

What about the hearts? Did you plan to carefully enter dummy with the J to the ace? If not, your next round of hearts will put you in the wrong hand.

The winning play is to trump with a high (not the ace, of course) club and then cross to dummy with the J to the ace. Next comes the 10 to allow you to be in dummy for the 8. Making 9 tricks was remarkably a top board; nobody else made 3.