Blum on Bridge Handling Card Combinations Part 2
	Before continuing the proper method declarer should implement to handle common holdings, I want to present a problem hand. The answer appears at the end of the column. Kent McWherter's partner held the following hand at the Wednesday 1 p.m. game at the United Church of Marco: J94-QJ6532-J86-7. After rho opened 1 diamond, Kent's partner overcalled 1 heart-lefty bid 2 clubs. Both Kent and the opening bidder passed. With the above hand what action, if any, do you take? Last week we were in the middle of a discussion of how to handle an outstanding jack when declarer and dummy holds seven cards including the AKQ in the suit. When dummy has five cards and you have two with either you or dummy holding the ten (example AK1065-Q4) play off the top honors to make five tricks, a 52 percent chance. However, at IMPs or Party Bridge if you only need four tricks, play the queen and take a safety play finessing the 10, a 92 percent winner. However, if the ten is a part of the doubleton (AK654-Q10), finesse the ten. Taking five tricks is 42 percent or winning four tricks with this approach is 92 percent. When you hold three cards (AKQ10-432) play the two top honors and if everyone follows, play the third honor, 2 percent better than finessing the ten. This wins four tricks 61 percent of the time. Last week we stressed the importance of tens, nines, and eights. Holding AKQ9-432, cash two top honors. If righty drops either the jack or ten, finesse the nine. This play is 6 percent better than cashing the third honor, winning 48 percent of the time. As we stated previously, for our purposes, dummy is assumed to always hold the longer suit. Holding eight cards missing only the jack with seven in dummy and a singleton in your hand to acquire all tricks seven tricks it is best to play AKQ (AKQ10765-4), almost a 3-1 sure thing. Needing only six tricks it is a 98 percent guarantee by finessing the 10 on the 1st round in case rho is void. Holding a small doubleton it is better than 2-1 to play off the top honors (AKQ1076-54). With eight cards remember the opponents hold five that are most likely to split 3-2. At IMPs where you are afraid to lose the lead and only need four tricks with a holding like AK105-Q974 cash the ace. If the eight falls, play the next top honor from the hand on the left of the eight. If the eight does not fall, you are on a guess as to which honor to play. Playing in this manner gives you over a 90 percent guarantee to make those four tricks. Last, but not least, assume you and dummy hold nine cards missing only the honor jack. Again there is over a 90 percent guarantee to win seven tricks holding AKQ8532-94 by playing the nine first. You hope rho covers. Regardless, play the ace from dummy. There is a 100 percent guarantee that you will make six tricks as long as you are careful with this holding AK10765-Q94. Lead the ace first is case either opponent is void. Another 100 percent guarantee to make all five possible tricks is AK1076-Q954. Cash the ace first, in case either opponent is void. To finalize today's discussion remember the importance of those tens, nines and eights. At a later date we will cover hands where the queen is the missing card. Also the odds can be skewed by virtue of the fact one or the other opponent has bid. Always listen to the auction and take inferences from it. Before giving a final answer to the problem hand given at the top of the column, consider the auction. It is strange that opener would pass his partner's 2/1 club response. He must have opened light. You have only five points. Therefore, someone at the table has a good hand. If you make a take-out double at this point you can support partner's bid of any suit outside of clubs. Had Kent's partner doubled Kent would salivate and quickly pass because he held A10-A-AK1097-AJ654, twenty hcps. Because both of his suits were bid by the opponents, Kent was unable to enter the bidding having to trust that his partner would reopen the auction.