THE deal comes from the Australian National Open Teams, with Matt Mullamphy sitting South. The opening bid of 2NT showed a 6-10 point hand containing both minor suits (with 20-22 points he would have opened a Multi 2D and rebid 2NT). North responded 3NT, closing the bidding, and West led the jack of hearts. Suppose you had been South. How would you have played the hand? Mullamphy won the heart lead with dummy’s king and sw immediately that the diamond suit might become blocked. A 2-2 break would not assist him. If he played ace and another diamond, capturing a doubleton queen with South’s king, the third round of diamonds would have to be won in the North hand. He, therefore, called for the ten of diamonds. East played low, hoping to put declarer to a guess, and Mullamphy took his only chance by running the ten. When the card held the trick, he continued with ace and another diamond, claiming the contract. East could have beaten the contract by covering the 10 with the queen. South would have to win the king and the diamond suit would then be blocked. This was not an obvious defence, from East’s point of view, since South might well have held the club ace. He would then have no blockage problems and might well need to guess the diamond suit correctly.
What would you say now on the West cards?
Answer
You are not strong enough to double INT and should raise the diamonds. If you bid only 2D you will let North mention his spades on a relatively weak hand. The opponents may then go to 3S over your second-round 3D. It is better tactics to raise to 3D straight away (you cannot be strong or you would have doubled INT). Now the meaning of 3S by North may be unclear to South. Awards: 3D-10, 2D-7, Dble-5, 2C/Pass-4.
THE deal comes from the Australian National Open Teams, with Matt Mullamphy sitting South. The opening bid of 2NT showed a 6-10 point hand containing both minor suits (with 20-22 points he would have opened a Multi 2D and rebid 2NT). North responded 3NT, closing the bidding, and West led the jack of hearts. Suppose you had been South. How would you have played the hand? Mullamphy won the heart lead with dummy’s king and sw immediately that the diamond suit might become blocked. A 2-2 break would not assist him. If he played ace and another diamond, capturing a doubleton queen with South’s king, the third round of diamonds would have to be won in the North hand. He, therefore, called for the ten of diamonds. East played low, hoping to put declarer to a guess, and Mullamphy took his only chance by running the ten. When the card held the trick, he continued with ace and another diamond, claiming the contract. East could have beaten the contract by covering the 10 with the queen. South would have to win the king and the diamond suit would then be blocked. This was not an obvious defence, from East’s point of view, since South might well have held the club ace. He would then have no blockage problems and might well need to guess the diamond suit correctly.
You are not strong enough to double INT and should raise the diamonds. If you bid only 2D you will let North mention his spades on a relatively weak hand. The opponents may then go to 3S over your second-round 3D. It is better tactics to raise to 3D straight away (you cannot be strong or you would have doubled INT). Now the meaning of 3S by North may be unclear to South. Awards: 3D-10, 2D-7, Dble-5, 2C/Pass-4.
