|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
With a moderate
20-count there was nothing much wrong with North’s decision to open
just IH. He judged that he would need his partner to hold enough for a
response before game would become a worthwhile proposition. How would
you play 3NT when West leads the seven of spades? At the table South
won the first trick with his jack of spades, over East’s nine, and
paused to make a plan. Too late! The daimonds were blocked and there
was no way to reach them. There was no excuse for going down in such a
simple contract. All that was needed was the discipline to make a
proper plan before playing to the first trick. Five diamonds, two
spades, and two more aces will bring the total to nine tricks. Since
the diamonds are blocked, you will need a spade entry to your hand.
You should therefore win the first trick with dummy’s ace of spades. What will you say now on the West cards? Answer
With a helfty stopper in the opener’s suit, you should respond in no-trumps. Remember that your partner has not shown the points for an opening bid, however. He may have overcalled at the one-level on a fair spade suit and no more than 8 or 9 points. So, respond 1NT and not 2NT. David Bird — Knight Features
|
||
|
|
||
You can then unblock the ace-king of diamonds and lead a second spade,
setting up a sure entry to the South hand. Nothing can then prevent
you from scoring the nine tricks that are your due. The same play
might the necessary if dummy’s diamonds were, say A-K-J and you held
Q-9-8-6-4. Since overtaking the jack with the queen on the third round
would cost the contract if a defender held 10-x-x-x in the suit, you
should once again rise with the spade ace on the first trick. You can
then cash the ace, king and jack of diamonds with no need to overtake.
