Fielder's Choice

19^th April – Board 9: E/W Game.  Dealer North.

West was faced with a tricky decision on today’s featured hand, but in reality he had fielder’s choice when he could either aim for a large penalty or go for a vulnerable game. And as is so often the case the decision should really be determined by whether the contest is imps (teams) or match-pointed pairs where in the latter case you have to go for the highest score possible.

I’m not a fan of that 3♦ overcall facing a partner who could not even open but it is what people do and I suppose at the prevailing vulnerability it has some merit. Certainly playing teams I would double - for penalties – with that West hand but 3NT is the winner. (If you bid 3♥ you have to make sure you have an agreement with partner whether that bid is forcing or not.) Against 3NT North will probably lead the jack of clubs, ducked round to the queen. A diamond to the king now allows declarer to take a heart finesse and the best move from there is to duck a heart completely, hoping that South started with just Kx or KJx, leaving the clubs safe from attack. But even if North did win the second heart (or third if declarer plays of the ace after taking the queen) and plays another club, declarer can counter by not playing the king whereupon the suit becomes blocked. If South passes the opening I suppose West would make some Ogust enquiry, find out that opener had poor spades but good points, and again settle for the no-trump game.