Not Easy

18^thMay – Board 26. Game All. Dealer East.

To be honest what might happen on the featured hand is not easy to predict and I only present a not unreasonable sequence. Quite often though in these high level bidding situations it becomes more a question of amour propre…..

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

West	North	East	South
		1S	2H
4S	5H	5S	End

I think it quite in order for East to bid 5S at his second turn because he must know that partner has one heart at most and a miracle holding in the club suit would actually make the contract cast-iron. South would pass that but North might do one of several things, including bidding 6H against which East should lead the ace of clubs, getting a smile and a nod from partner. An ill thought out lead of the ace of spades on the other hand would lead to an embarrassing result.