Who Knows?

24th July – Board 23: Game All. Dealer South.

Decisions at the five level are always difficult in a competitive situation and all sorts of things might – and did – happen on the hand shown below.

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

West	North	East	South
			No
No	1H	5D	5H
6D	End

I think the above auction is reasonable although I suppose North might open with a weak 2H (too strong I think, but after a passed partner?) and East might start with a double in an effort to show a strong hand. In reality it is unlikely that a slam is in the offing once partner has passed and 5D has the merit of forcing the opponents to a decision at an uncomfortably high level. However that may be, both South and West are likely to have another go and with both black suit finesses working 6D will make with an overtrick. (Not that you need the spade finesse necessarily unless that suit is led, for declarer’s losing spade can be discarded on a club.) If N/S sacrifice in 6H that will prove expensive although it is hard for E/W to come to all their rightful tricks as East is in danger of being endplayed at some stage. On the AD lead West should play the ten, a suit preference signal for a spade. East can now lead a spade and take a third round ruff but will now have to give a ruff and discard or let declarer make his king of clubs. The only way E/W can come to all their tricks is for East to lead a low diamond to the ten, receive a club back, and now play on spades to get a ruff. If you did that you shouldn’t be reading this column.