It is so much easier to play a hand if you know what your opponents' cards are, do you not agree? I discussed the bidding of this hand in the previous article. Now I wish to discuss the play.

From Wednesday 20/07/2016
Board 5 Dealer N NS Vul

	Q2 KJ9873 3 8742
KT76 AQT62 4 AK5		AJ943 5 QJ QJT96
	85 4 AKT987652 3

Wednesday Play 10
You will have seen this deal reviewed in a previous article but I want to revisit it because it is particularly significant from the point of view of declarer play.

Board 1 Dealer N Nil Vul

	K43 AKQ9 K52 A92
A2 8653 T876 Q63		J987 42 QJ KJ875
	QT65 JT7 A943 T4

It's quite amazing how the very first board I look at often shows up something of value and interest. Here we have something that should be basic bidding, and also basic from a play point of view but, judging by the results, I suspect none of the fundamental principles were followed in practice.

Board 1 Dealer N Nil Vul

	K43 AKQ9 K52 A92
A2 8653 T876 Q63		J987 42 QJ KJ875
	QT65 JT7 A943 T4

I wonder how many readers are aware of the fact that you need to defend quite differently against 1NT than against 3NT. Or a part score in a suit, as against game. This very simple illustration from a recent match point session will, I hope, help the reader understand that there are thirteen tricks in every deal, and that in all circumstances there are lots of options to take as many of these as required, or possible.

Board 2 Dealer E NS Vul

	AK8 K7 T63 A9852
T765 QJ82 J7 643		93 AT63 KQ54 QJ7
	QJ42 952 A982 KT