NORTH’S
sequence promised four spades (otherwise there would be no point in
bidding Stayman). If South held four spades as well as four hearts, he
would correct to 4S at his third turn. How would you play 3NT after West
leads the club king? Declarer won the third round of clubs, East
throwing a heart, and played a heart to the king and ace. East returned
a heart, won with the queen, and declarer now tested the diamond suit.
West threw a club on the third round, leaving East with a master
diamond. When declarer played the ace and king of spades, the 10
appeared from West on the second round. How would you read the cards
now? There are two reasons to place West with 10-5 in spades, rather
than J-10-5. Firstly, the Principle of Restricted Choice states that it
is twice as likely that West played the spade-10 because he had to,
rather than because he chose it from J-10. Secondly, if East had been
dealt three low cards in spades — and consequently four hearts — he
would surely have a thrown a spade instead of a heart (a suit that South
had bid). Declarer duly threw East with a diamond, forcing a return into
dummy’s Q-9 of spades. Game made!
What would you say
now?
Answer
Partner’s jump to 4S
shows a weakish hand with long spades. You can expect some losers in the
red suits, with most of the enemy strength sitting over you, and should
therefore pass now. I held this hand at the table and North competed to
5C. I bid a fifth spade then and was able to make 11 tricks on an
elimination. Partner held QJI0653/5/543/J94. After eliminating clubs,
North was through in with the heart queen on the fourth round of the
suit.
NORTH’S
sequence promised four spades (otherwise there would be no point in
bidding Stayman). If South held four spades as well as four hearts, he
would correct to 4S at his third turn. How would you play 3NT after West
leads the club king? Declarer won the third round of clubs, East
throwing a heart, and played a heart to the king and ace. East returned
a heart, won with the queen, and declarer now tested the diamond suit.
West threw a club on the third round, leaving East with a master
diamond. When declarer played the ace and king of spades, the 10
appeared from West on the second round. How would you read the cards
now? There are two reasons to place West with 10-5 in spades, rather
than J-10-5. Firstly, the Principle of Restricted Choice states that it
is twice as likely that West played the spade-10 because he had to,
rather than because he chose it from J-10. Secondly, if East had been
dealt three low cards in spades — and consequently four hearts — he
would surely have a thrown a spade instead of a heart (a suit that South
had bid). Declarer duly threw East with a diamond, forcing a return into
dummy’s Q-9 of spades. Game made!
Partner’s jump to 4S
shows a weakish hand with long spades. You can expect some losers in the
red suits, with most of the enemy strength sitting over you, and should
therefore pass now. I held this hand at the table and North competed to
5C. I bid a fifth spade then and was able to make 11 tricks on an
elimination. Partner held QJI0653/5/543/J94. After eliminating clubs,
North was through in with the heart queen on the fourth round of the
suit.