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No “walk in the park”.

A decent dummy with excellent trumps augurs well for the making of our heart game. Yet, there are some disturbing features. The opposition’s 2NT bid showing the minors not only signalled that there could be a bad split in your trump suit but also that if you tried to ruff cards from dummy, that West could overruff you. Meanwhile, your partner could not even produce one spade while the opposition have got off to the best lead..for them!

 

 

With such good potential in the majors, you open the bidding. Partner's 1NT was less than game force (they really did not like spades!) but a one round-force. 2NT showed the minor suits (5+ 5+) and you tried hearts. Partner seemed to like them better and tried for slam (4)! "No thanks" you said and soon received 6 lead. What's your plan to make 10 tricks?

So, we’ve listed all the negatives. On the plus side, you can afford to lose a trump and a diamond and something else, maybe the A as you really need to make some tricks from that suit.

Tempt East by leading a low diamond at trick 2. They take their A to play a high club which you ruff. Now comes a high spade, well a slightly less than high if you like, like Q on which West plays low. They either have the ace or do not! Either way, discard a diamond from the dummy. East holds this ace, too. Back comes a third club and you are conscious of the fact that West played 7 then 6. An honest doubleton? You cannot be sure. Ruff with 7. West plays 10. “a dishonest” trebleton!

You still do not know the lie of the majors but essentially you are going to cash one or two spades and continue a cross-ruff as you are short of entries to your own hand to set up the spade suit.

You do not want to give East a cheap ruff and play Q which holds the trick..but East discards a diamond. These cards remained with you able to afford to lose one trick.

 

You can cash your two high spades discarding two of dummy’s three losers, ruff a spade, cash the K and then ruff the remaining small card in dummy with your 8. Either then or later, West will score their K but that is all and dummy’s high trumps would take the last two tricks.

Not easy and “no slam, partner! Happy enough to make 10 tricks!”

hard going!

There were the four hands:

 

Had West led a small trump, the play would have gone essentially the same way. Similarly, even without knowledge of East’s shape, declarer should play the hand on similar lines. Yet, the knowledge of an opponent’s shape can be very helpful when playing an awkward contract, the downside of “full exposure” as East did with their 2NT call. It’s not that they should not have done so but the benefits come more from when your side is declaring than defending.

Thinking of Grand Slams?  

Then think again!

 

We are in the world of the part-score. We are playing Pairs. 1 is natural, 4+ and 3 a standard value raise, 10-11. Are you bidding or leading?

Richard Solomon

 

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