No Way

28th January – Board 2. North/South Game. Dealer East.

Bridge can be a very frustrating game as we all know and this is illustrated well in the hand shown below although there was really no way the defense could blame themselves.

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

West	North	East	South
		No	1S
No	2D	No	2NT
No	3NT	End

The bidding sequence is hardly remarkable and just about every West would lead a low heart resulting in declarer wrapping up twelve easy tricks whereas a highly unlikely club lead would result in a one trick defeat. But swap the E/W hands and a club lead would be routine… However a thought has just struck me! I would be able to open 2S on that East hand showing five spades and a four or five card minor and about 5 to 9 points. South would bid 2NT, raised to game by North I dare say, leaving West with an outside chance of finding the killing lead.