| Solutions to March Quiz
Hand #1
Spades are trump, you have picked up the Right. You now hold:
 K J
 A
 K Q
 Void
West leads the 10 of Diamonds. Partner plays the Ace, and East trumps in with the Ace of Spades. He now shifts to the King of Hearts, and your Ace wins as West drops the Queen and partner follows with the 9. Now what?
Here is one of those hands where judgment is so critical. Then again in Euchre, you sometimes have to make a split-second decision. East is apparently out of trump, as he played the Ace when cutting the Diamond. If partner has the Left or if it is buried, the rest is easy. However, we must cater to the possibility that West has the Left. Leading the Diamond King is a "safety" play. If West is able to trump in, he is endplayed, and must lead into your Right King. If the King of Diamonds walks, then your Right assures the point. The only risk here is that East concealed another trump (namely the Queen or 10!) when he chose to cut with the Ace on trick one. If this is the case, then offer him the chance to be your partner!
There are those who insist that leading the Right is the winning line. This line of play is slightly inferior to the lead of the Diamond King. Suppose after winning the Ace of Hearts, you cash the Right, and the Left does not fall. Now you must exit with the Diamond King, and hope that West does not hold three trump. However, leading the Right is a fair percentage play, and protects against a Singleton Left in the East hand. This simple hand can be complicated!
Hand # 2
You accept the 10 of Hearts upcard, and have this holding:
 Void
 A 10 9
 Void
 A 10
Most two-suiters are usually a good bet, as long as the trump holding is decent and/or the distribution and placement of "key" cards is reasonable. West's lead of the Spade Ace is trumped by partner's Queen, and overruffed with East's King of Hearts! What is the plan here?
This one is easy! Win the trick with the Ace of Hearts, and immediately lead a trump! The location of the Bowers will decide the outcome. If they are both in either opponent's hand, then you must hope for a Club lead after that opponent draws out your last trump. If either Bower is buried or in partner's hand, you are home free! Finally, if the Bowers are "split" between any two of the other players, your play of a trump will "crash" them together. Then you will score your last trump, and the Club Ace.
Hand # 3
Hearts are trump and you hold this hand after making your discard.
 K Q 10
 J
 J
 Void
Did anyone spot the flaw in the layout? One person did…The upcard could never be the Left, for Diamonds would be trump! LOL Then again, it does not really matter which red suit is trump, as the play is the same. However, let us assume that Hearts are trump, and you have the diagrammed layout.
West leads the Club Ace. North and East follow low. South must trump immediately. Ducking this trick merely postpones the decision. Leading the other Bower relinquishes control of the hand while risking the extraction of a key trump from partner's hand. Try the Spade King (and pray). Partner may be able to trump in cleanly. If East wins with the Ace of Spades, or a low trump, you are in a lot of trouble. Perhaps partner may have the Diamond or Club Ace. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps… If East wins the first Spade and shifts to a low card in a side suit, you may get home. If East leads a trump, it is lights out. Unless, unless, unless…There is a lot of speculation here. Still, the lead of a high Spade on trick #2 is your best chance.
Have a good month! | |
