High Risk

22nd October – Board 1. Love All. Dealer North.

There was a lot at stake on the following hand from last Thursday’s team event as so often happens when the bidding starts at a high level and escalates from then on.

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

West	North	East	South
	3H	Dbl	4H
4S	No	No	5H
No	No	5S	Dbl
End

I give the bidding as it happened at one table and I guess it’s all fair enough. East has a tricky decision over the preempt but is clearly right to bid 5S later after his partner has volunteered the suit. South must have thought that Christmas had come early but after the likely – and actual – lead of the heart ace declarer can actually come to eleven tricks by taking some right views. (Of course you have to play the queen of trumps first when tackling the suit because you can then pick up South’s holding with repeated finesses.) With one diamond loser disappearing on the king of hearts declarer might just lose one diamond and one club. But at any rate one or two down would still constitute a gain and in fact North/South can make 6H with a good view in the trump suit. (Or good eyes!)