Bridge

You are sitting East, defending 3NT, and partner leads the five of clubs. You cover dummy’s jack of clubs with the king and declarer wins with the ace. Declarer plays a diamond to the ten and you win with the ace. When you return the three of clubs, West plays the four and the trick is won in dummy. ‘Small heart, please,’ says declarer. How will you defend? What is the club situation? West’s lead of low spot-card has suggested an honor in the suit. Since he led a fourth-best five of clubs and has since followed with the four, he must have started with five clubs. To beat the contract, you must rise with the heart ace and return your last club. Partner will score three club tricks, to go with your two red-suit aces, and that will be one down. You may think it was an easy hand to defend. So it was, but an international player in the final of the 2005 White House International in Holland failed to rise with the heart ace. Declarer scored one heart trick and claimed the contract. Note also how important it was for West to duck the second round of clubs, to preserve communications. Since the club two was still missing, there was every chance that East was returning his middle card from an original K-3-2.

Answer
A double would be for take-out, showing hearts and clubs, and many players would make this call. It is barely worth it on such moderate values. It would be different if South had bid 1H and you held four spades and four clubs. Holding the senior suit there would be more chance that you win the auction. 1NT would not be a good bid because you are well short of the required values (around 16-18 points).

Awards: Pass – 10, Dble – 6, 1NT – 3.

David Bird — Knight Features

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