BridgeHands

Google BridgeHands

 HOME  Encyclopedia  Newsletter  Laws  Products  Services  Reviews  Tournaments  Blog  Training  Practice   HELP
 You are at:

 

More Declarer Play The Bergen Way

 
 
   
 

Order More Declarer Play here                   Order other Bergen books
Bergenisms - Index to More Declarer Play the Bergen Way


Chapter 4: Life in Notrump .............................................. 47


© 2006 - Marty Bergen

 

Chapter 5

Maximizing Your Entries

© 2006 - Marty Bergen


Page 59
Maximizing Your Entries

Get There If You Can

Contract: 3NT
Lead:
J
   North
K 10 6
7 5
7 2
Q 10 9 6 3 2
     
 
 
       South
A Q 3
A K 4 2
A K 5 3

J 4
   

West   North   East     South

   --        --         --        2NT

Pass     2NT      All Pass

You have 7 tricks: 3 spades, 2 hearts and 2 diamonds.  Your only hope is to set up dummy’s clubs. At trick 1, East follows with the Q and you win with the ace.  You lead the J, hoping to drive out a club honor; but both opponents play low. You lead a second club, and East wins that with the K. He shifts to the Q, and you win the A. Once again, you’re in your hand, but you’re definitely not happy.

Dummy’s one entry is not sufficient to knock out the A and then get back to the board to run clubs.  An entry, an entry, my kingdom for an entry. Do you have any suggestions?
 

© 2006 - Marty Bergen


Page 60
Maximizing Your Entries

In addition to the K, the only possible entry to the board is the 10. Therefore, you should lead the 3, finesse the ten, and hold your breath. It wins! YES!!!  It is now child’s play to knock out the A and claim your well-earned 11 tricks.

Here is the entire deal:

 

Contract: 3NT
Lead:
J
   North
K 10 6
7 5
7 2
Q 10 9 6 3 2
     West
J 7 4 2
J 10 9 8 6 3
9

8 7
     East
9 8 5
Q
Q J 10 8 6 4

A K 5
 
       South
A Q 3
A K 4 2
A K 5 3

J 4
   

P.S. West could have defeated the contract by inserting the J when you led the 3. That would deny you the second spade entry you needed.

P.P.S. If you do encounter a West who plays the J, quick, check his pulse. There’s an excellent chance that he’s from another planet!

© 2006- Marty Bergen


Chapter 6: To Finesse, or Not to Finesse? .......................... 67


HOME  Encyclopedia  Newsletter  Laws  Products  Services  Reviews  Tournaments  Blog  Training Practice Links HELP
Contacts: Sales  Support  Reviews  Q&A    Disclaimer    Privacy    © 2005 BridgeHands   Updated 01/22/11