Lesson 1 - Overcall or Double

Lesson 6 – Entries - Answers

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Hand #1<= /p>

Ruff the second diamond with the ♠9. Don’t even think about ruffing with the ♠2. Play the ♠ A K and hope spades are 2-2. If they are, cross to dummy with a trump and lead = the ♣10. If East has fewer than four clubs to the king, you make your contract. If spades are 3-1, at least you tried. Who know – maybe the ♣ K is singleton.

&nb= sp;

Hand #2<= /p>

Win the opening lead and take the heart finess= e. Assuming the finesse works (through the takeout doubler, afer all), draw tr= umps and repeat the finesse. If you draw trumps before taking the heart finesse,= how will you be able to get back to your hand to repeat the finesse?

Hand #3<= /p>

Count your tricks. You have twelve tricks if y= ou can bring in the diamonds for four tricks even if you score only two club trick= s. Win the first club with the ace to ensure a future dummy entry to the diamo= nds.

Hand #4<= /p>

You start by assuming that the spade finesse is going to work. If true, you need two dummy entries to repeat the finesse. S= tart by ruffing the second club with a middle trump and play the ♥A K. If hearts are 2-1, you have your two dummy entries: the ♥5 and the ϗ= 0;A. If trumps are 3-0, you have to try to create an extra dummy entry by leadin= g a low diamond to the jack!

&nb= sp;

Hand #5<= /p>

Win the second spade and play the ♣J. If someone wins, you have an entry to the diamonds in the form of the ♣1= 0. If the ♣J holds, play the ♣A to see if the ♣Q falls. If it does, lead a club to the ♣10 and take the rest of the tricks. If the ♣Q does not drop, lead a low heart to the queen. If West has the heart king, you are home. If East has the heart king, you still make the hand if = the clubs are 3-3.

Hand #6<= /p>

Your plan should be to try to set up the 5th diamond in case the spades are not 3-3. Ruff the club lead high and play ace and another diamond. Assume the opponents win and play a spade, which is as good as anything. Win in dummy, ruff a diamond high, cross to the ♥8 = and ruff another diamond. If diamonds are no worse than 4-2, dummy’s 5th diamond is high. Draw trumps and cross to dummy with a spade to discard your possible losing spade on dummy’s 5^th diamond.

Hand #7<= /p>

With all the cards marked on your right, you n= eed two dummy entries in order to take the spade finesse and to lead a heart to= the 7! Now open your eyes. If the 7 held, take the spade finesse, return to the ♥9 and lead up to the ♦K.

Hand #8<= /p>

Did you count your tricks? You have nine if yo= u can score one spade. Win the ♣K in dummy to ensure a later hand entry to = the form of the ♣A. Run the diamonds and lead the ♠Q. If you greedi= ly play the ♣J at trick one and East plays the Q, then whether or not you duck, you are in deep trouble. The opponents can keep you out of your hand,= and you may never get a spade trick.

Hand #9<= /p>

Don’t get greedy and win the opening lea= d in dummy. Look ahead – what are you going to do now? Any play you make at this point is fraught with danger, particularly if East has the ♠A. A better play is to overtake the ♦K at trick one and run the ♥Q. = If it loses, you can be sure that West has both the ♣K and the ♠A.= If the finesse wins, continue with a second heart. If hearts are 2-2, return to your hand with a trump and run the ♣10. If that loses, the ♠A m= ust be onside and all you will lose is a spade, a club, and a diamond. If West = has three hearts to the king, take the club finesse before playing a third hear= t.

Hand #10=

East’s double asks for dummy’s fir= st bid suit, hearts. West’s failure to lead a heart indicates a void. Win the ♣A K and discard the ♦A. Now play the winning diamonds and disc= ard as many hearts as you can before someone ruffs. If diamonds are no worse th= an 5-3, you are home!