Left Boot

23rd August – Board 19: East/West Vul. Dealer South.

With a little science and good visualization the pairs sitting North/South should have enjoyed the following hand:

6♣ is an excellent contract on the two hands and the above auction cannot be considered too outrageous. East might feel compelled to bid more at his first turn with a seven card suit but 7-2-2-2 hands always play like a left boot and at the unfavourable vulnerability I think caution should be advised. When North hears of a good hand opposite with a spade stop I think a bid of 4♣ is justified – forcing of course, because you never remove a game contract into a partscore. Then when South shows first round control of hearts he can hardly stop short of a slam. With the trumps dividing nicely declarer can set up a long diamond in dummy by ruffing the fourth in hand, and take the heart finesse for the overtrick. Indeed with East showing values 7♣ is a good contract but maybe too difficult to reach with any confidence.

Those who reach 6NT will find they make all thirteen tricks without really trying but only by keeping a little alert. On the run of the clubs West is in all sorts of difficulties. He has to keep the diamonds guarded so must come down to just a doubleton heart. Now, after cashing three diamonds declarer is forced to take the heart finesse and finds he makes three tricks in the suit. In all he makes, one spade, three hearts, three diamonds and six clubs.