Sunday, November 6, 2011

Sunday, November 6th 2011

Right-click here for hands.

Board 4: North opens 1NT (15-17). East might interfere with more concentrated values, but his actual hand looks good for passing and leading a diamond against notrump. South transfers to spades; West glacnes at the vulnerability before passing. North accepts the transfer and East prudently passes again. After South passes, West can risk 3C -- partner is marked with some values and West is short in spades. North has a flat minimum, but all but one his points are outside clubs and he has excellent AQxx support for spades. 3S could work out badly if partner is broke but seems a reasonable risk at matchpoints. This should end the bidding -- E/W succeeded in pushing N/S to the undesirable three level, no reason to risk -200 or worse with another call.

East should think twice before leading clubs -- West declined the chance to overcall 3C, so all East can expect is length, not great strength in the suit. Expecting his red suit honors to be well-placed over the strong hand, East starts with a low trump. This "pickles" West's King but no lead was clearly safe. Declarer could, of course, have reached dummy with the Ace of clubs to take the finesse himself. Instead, declarer captures West's King, crosses to the Jack of spades, and finesses in diamonds. East wins and must break a new suit or gamble partner has the 10 of diamonds -- is it time for clubs? I'd guess West does not have the Ace and King, and declarer appears to have shown the AQ of spades and AQ of diamonds -- he simply can't have the AQ of hearts, also. A low heart allows the defense to collect three fast winners. Fortunately for declarer, East must still guess which minor suit to lead, and hoping for two club honors seems safer than hoping West has the 10 of diamonds. Declarer captures East's Queen and returns another club to set up a discard for the third diamond. North may regret minus 100 for 3S but a kind partner will point out that West could make 3C if he sets up diamonds before tackling trumps.

Board 8: West passes and North may pass or open 2H according to taste. I prefer a slightly better suit in first or second seat with minimum hands, but A109xxx isn't terrible and I suspect 2H (not vulnerable) was the popular choice.  East's hand looks like a favorite to make 4S, but partner might have a singleton or void in hearts and slam might be on opposite, say, xxxx x KQxx xxxx. I hate making a takeout double with a singleton in a side suit, let alone a void, but East can reasonably expect to bid spades over any level of club bid by partner and there is no obvious alternative way to portray a strong hand. South bids 3C to direct the lead, and West competes with 3D despite only 5 hcp. Afer this free bid, East should be able to jump to 3S and trust partner not to pass, but I think I'd bid 4S and discuss it later. This should end the auction.

South leads a high club and East should plan the hand before reflexively ruffing  -- he has several hearts to dispose of. One can be pitched on a diamond and he can lead through North for another; competent defenders won't allow a ruff with dummy's lone trump. But if South leads a trump it's into East's AKJ -- why not pitch a heart at trick one? South will help declarer with a spade or heart switch, and can't hurt him with any lead. South persists with a second club, East ruffs and simply plays AK and a low trump. It's often a good idea to leave the master trump out, but here declarer wants to cash three diamonds without interruption and then lead up to the King of hearts for 10 tricks.

Perhaps East should ruff at trick one -- if North grabs his Ace of hearts later, South's Queen can be squished and declarer makes 5. I don't see a reasonable line that allows East to finesse in trumps.

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