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If so, what do you return? The general rule when a singleton is led from dummy is: do not rise with the ace unless you can see the setting tricks (s). If you play the ace here declarer will have a diamond discard on the heart king. The slam will be easily made. Play low smoothly instead and declarer may misguess, playing the jack in the hope that you have the queen. West will win with the queen and the slam will go one down. Playing low works well when South has Q-J-x of hearts too. If you rise with the ace you set up a ruffing finesse against partner’s king. What should you say now on those West cards?
Answer With 13 points you want to be in game, but which game? There is no reason to expect partner to hold five hearts, so it is not safe to raise to 4H. Nor can you bid 3NT with only 10-x-x in the unbid suit. On this type of hand the only sound call is a bid in the fourth suit, here 3C. It means ‘I have a strong hand but no good bid to make. Please continue to describe your hand.’ If partner rebids his hearts you can play in game there. If he bids 3S, suggesting six spades or five good ones, you can bid 4S. Over 3NT you will pass. Awards: 3C-10, 4H-4, 4S-3, 3NT-2. — David Bird (Knight Features) |
You
may laugh at North’s uncultured bidding but it looks all right to me.
The hand is too strong for a splinter bid (4H to show a sound game raise
with at most a singleton heart). Anyway, take the East cards —
covering the West and South hands for a moment and see how well you
defend the slam. Partner leads the queen of diamonds, won with dummy’s
ace, and at Trick 2 the singleton heart is led from the table. Do you
take the ace? 
