ONE name that appears often in this column is that of Eddie Kantor and there are good reasons for this — not only is he one of the world’s best players and writers, he is almost everyone’s favourite person. A few of you got to meet him with Zeke Jabbour this spring in Bermuda and you can’t help but learn from him.

Here is a ‘Test Your Play’ from him.

Dealer: North

Vulnerable: Both

IMPsNorth

[spade]J 6 4 3

[heart]A Q 10 2

[diamond]A 8 6 4

[club]A

South

[spade]A K 7 2

[heart]K 3

[diamond]J 10 9

[club]K Q 10 2

West North East Sout>

1[diamond] Pass 1[spade]

Pass 3[spade] Pass 4NT (1)

Pass 5[club] (2) Pass 5[diamond] (3)

Pass 5[spade] Pass 6[spade]

All Pass1. Roman Key Card Blackwood (3,014 responses when opener has jumped — read the book!)

2. 3

3. Queen-ask

4. Negative

Opening lead: 9 of clubs

After long thought you decide to win the opening lead in dummy and then play the ace and king of spades. The good news is that both opponents follow. The bad news is that someone still has the queen. Now what?

Solution: Give yourself two chances. Start with the king and queen of clubs, discarding diamonds, and hope the jack appears. If it does, you can discard yet another diamond from dummy on the club 10 and you lose the high spade, period. If the club jack does not drop, you are reduced to a heart finesse. Cash the king of hearts and lead a low heart to the 10 (the percentage play for the four heart tricks you need).

Dealer: North

Vulnerable: Both

IMPsNorth

[spade]J 6 4 3

[heart]A Q 10 2

[diamond]A 8 6 4

[clubB>

West East<$>

[spade]Q 8 5 [spade]10 9

[heart]J 8 6 4 [heart]9 7 5

[diamond]K 7 [diamond]Q 5 3 2

[club]9 8 7 6 [club]J 5 4 3

South

[spade]A K 7 2

[heart]K 3

[diamond]J 10 9

[club]K Q 10 2Note: Mahmood Zia (almost everyone thinks Zia is his first name), one of the world’s trickiest opening leaders, would probably lead the diamond 7! No matter, win the ace, cash the club ace, the ace and king of spades, the king and queen of clubs, and when no jack falls, it’s back to the heart finesse to make your sla

David Ezekiel: Note that you cannot chicken out on the heart play. The percentage play is the finesse — just do it!