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You deserve to celebrate if you've got this far. I think this is one of the most difficult topics in card play.

Unblocking (continued) 

Let's have a look at a few more examples of unblocking. This is where it begins to get difficult.

With the following holding in a side suit in a trump contract, declarer would routinely drop her king under the opponents ace to create two entries to dummy, provided that, as usual, dummy's entries were limited.

Declarer

#

Dummy

   K 7 6    Q J 3

The above is an example of declarer playing  an unnecessarily high card in order to improve communications, pave the way for a trick or create extra entries in dummy. Here are some more, with acknowledgement to Reese and Dormer in 'The complete book of bridge'.

(1)

 

N

 

Dummy

#

Declarer

A 10 4 K Q 9 6 3
 

S

 

Easy if they break 3:2, but what about 4:1 ? Play the king, go over to the ace and if South shows out, you are in a position to finesse against North's J 8 7 2. But, to avoid the requirement of a side entry, you must unblock by playing the 10 spot under the king. Try it! 

(2)

 

N

 

Dummy

#

Declarer

A 9 4 K Q 8 3
 

S

 

Similarly, lead the king and drop the nine under it. If it looks from the play as if South started with only two cards in this suit, you are paving the way for a finesse of the eight, without the need for any further entries in declarer's hand.

(3)

 

N

 

Dummy

#

Declarer

J 10 4 A K 9 5 2
 

S

 

Declarer begins by laying down the ace in case South holds the singleton queen. When South follows low, however, declarer unblocks dummy's jack as he intends to cross to dummy on an outside entry for a finesse. If he were to keep the jack and the ten, the run of the suit might be obstructed.

(4)

 

N

 
Dummy

#

Declarer
J 10 5 K 7
 

S

 

If a small card is led by South to North's ace, unblocking by playing the king loses nothing and creates a potential entry to dummy.

(5)

 

N

 

Dummy

#

Declarer

   J 8 3    Q 6 2
  S  

If South leads the ace, presumably from the ace and king, unblocking by playing the queen (on trick one or two) creates an extra entry to dummy in the jack (if it isn't ruffed !).

(6)

 

N

 

Dummy

#

Declarer

Q J 4 A 8 6
 

S

 

This is similar to an earlier one. You must play the '4' from dummy on the initial lead and play your ace from hand. You then have a certain entry in the queen or the jack.

(7)

N

Dummy

#

Declarer

K J 4 A 9
S

On the lead of a small card from South, it is tempting to take 'free' finesse with the jack. Even if this succeeds, you cannot take three tricks in this suit without an extra entry to dummy. Play your ace on trick one, and then finesse your jack against South's queen, if it hasn't appeared. This leads to three tricks in the suit.

(8)

 

N

 
Dummy # Declarer
A 10 2 J 4
 

S

 

If North plays the king or the queen on the lead of a low card from South, unblock by playing your jack. A subsequent finesse against South's remaining honour yields two tricks in the suit without recourse to additional entries in dummy.

When you are ready, have a look at these practise hands which encompass concepts from all aspects of declarer play.

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You open one spade and partner bids a minor suit. Would you rather it were clubs or diamonds? 

Answer

S A K Q J 3
H 5 2
D 3
C Q 8 7 6 5