Bridge

What would you have bid on the South hand? Many years ago players would say: ‘It is too strong for a 1S overcall, so I had better start with a double’. You would have to adopt that approach with, say, a 20-count. On the present hand most players nowadays would be happy to overcall 1S. South’s choice was 1NT, to show the points, and North was able to bid Stayman to locate the spade fit anyway. How would you play Four Spades when West leads the jack of clubs? Declarer won the club lead and cashed the other top club. He then played a trump. If East had been dealt the singleton ace of trumps, he would have been end-played immediately. As it was, he could win with the trump ace and exit safely with a trump. Declarer won in the dummy and led a diamond, through East’s ace, towards the queen in the South hand. East had to duck or he would give declarer two diamond tricks. Declarer then played his remaining trumps. In order to keep the hearts guarded, East had to throw all his clubs and reduce to a bare ace of diamonds over the dummy’s bare king. Declarer then threw East on lead with a diamond. His last three cards were Q-10-8 of hearts and the enforced heart exit gave declarer three tricks in the suit and his contract.

Answer

Many players would note that they held 11 points and give the matter no further thought, advancing with 2NT. It’s not a mistake exactly, but the singleton heart is not a promising feature. Nor is the absence of tens and nines in your hand. Once you start putting some sample hands opposite, you will see that the chance of making game is not at all good and it is better to pass 2H.
AWARDS: Pass-10, 2NT-6.

David Bird — Knight Features

HOME