No Answer

24th November – Board 11. Love All. Dealer South.

Bridge is such an enchanting game for many reasons especially when a well-conducted auction leads to a silly result.

	North: S A Q H A K J 8 5 D 10 6 2 C A 10 8
West: S J 9 6 2 H 10 9 7 4 D A 8 C J 6 5		East: S 10 8 7 5 H 3 2 D K J 9 7 5 4 C Q
	South: S K 4 3 H Q 6 D Q 3 C K 9 7 4 3 2

West	North	East	South
			No
No	1H	No	2C
No	2NT	No	3NT
End

After a two-level response it is sensible to have a rebid by opener of 2NT as forcing to game, as is the case here. With three-card heart support South could essay 3H but that is not the case here and a raise to 3NT looks so obvious. That this contract is not the best is highlighted when the defenders take the first six tricks after a diamond lead with 4H being cold. Of course if the East/West hands were transposed then declarer would wrap up ten tricks on the likely spade lead and nothing much would be said. Sometimes there is just no answer.