Fearful symmetry

17th June - Board: 15 N/S Vul. Dealer South

	North: S none H Q J 6 3 2 D A J 10 8 4 C 10 4 2
West: S K 9 8 3 H 9 8 7 5 4 D 5 3 C J 6		East: S A 7 6 5 4 2 H none D 6 2 C A K Q 8 5
	South: S Q J 10 H A K 10 D K Q 9 7 C 9 7 3

Sometimes an innocuous seeming play can lead to total disaster, and so it was in the featured hand, both from a N/S and an E/W viewpoint. But first what would you bid on that East hand after the bidding has proceeded with 1D on your left and 1H on your right? Most people just bid spades but I think that is wrong for a subtle reason that will become clear later. With a two-suited hand it is important to try and show both suits in one go and here you can, for you have the option of bidding 2H to show a black two-suiter with longer spades, or 2D which would show a black two-suiter with longer clubs! Obvious when you think about it.

Anyway at one table the contract was 5D doubled by South, and West only having seen his partner bid spades not unnaturally led that suit – and now the contract is cold for an overtrick. Declarer ruffs in dummy, draws trumps and ultimately makes twelve tricks via three spade ruffs, five hearts and four trumps. If East had shown clubs as well then West might well have led one of those and the defence take the first three tricks.

At another table E/W ‘saved’ in 5S doubled over 5D but it was South who was on lead and he tried a top heart. In an uncanny replay declarer can ruff, draw two rounds of trumps and then just play clubs. With South following to three rounds dummy’s diamonds disappear and the contract is again made with an overtrick. Of course if East had shown his two-suiter then West would have been playing the contract and North would probably have led the ace of diamonds. A second diamond follows and a trump trick for the defending side leads to a one-trick defeat.