Put to The Test

21st October – Board 12: N/S Vul. Dealer West.
North:
S K 8 5
H K Q 7 6 2
D K Q 7
C 10 3
West:
S Q 4
H J 10 4 3
D 8 5 3
C A 9 4 2
East:
S J 10 9 3 2
H 9
D J 10 4 2
C K 8 5
South:
S A 7 6
H A 8 5
D A 9 6
C Q J 7 6


3NT is where you want to play but I imagine most pairs bid to the heart game. On the likely lead of the jack of spades the defence should always prevail, for with the bad trump break declarer looks set to lose a spade, a heart, and two clubs. Declarer can put the defence to the test however. Suppose you win the spade lead in hand and then play three top trumps ending in dummy, and then lead a low club. West mustn’t be caught napping but must rise with the ace immediately in order to play another spade. Then when declarer plays a second club East can win and cash a spade for a one trick set. Of course with the top club honours being where they are this should not tax West unduly, but imagine instead he held the king of clubs and not the ace. Somehow it’s not so easy to rise with the king, but that is what he would have to do.

As for the bidding? Well maybe it should go something like: -
West
North
East
South
No
1H
No
2C
No
2H
No
3NT
End


South has such a flat hand that maybe he should ignore the heart fit. Or maybe it’s just a case of being wise after the event.

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