West opened with a weak 2H and North’s double was for take-out. His subsequent 3H showed a powerful hand and South jumped to 4S because his hand was much stronger than it might have been. North’s 4NT was Roman Key-card Blackwood, South’s response showing the ace and king of trumps. How would you play 6S when West leads the king of hearts? There are three potential losers in the South hand and these must be reduced to one. The club loser can be discarded on the fourth round of diamonds, so if you can ruff one of the heart losers you will make the slam. The risk to be avoided is that you get locked in the North hand and cannot draw trumps. Declarer won the heart lead and played the queen of trumps. He then conceded a heart trick, preparing for a ruff. West won with the heart queen and switched to a diamond, won in the dummy. The key point of the deal had been reached. What would your next play have been? Declarer led the NINE of trumps to the ace, West showing out. He then ruffed his heart loser with the jack and led the seven of trumps to his eight. All that remained was to draw trumps and claim the balance.
Although you have 10 points, there is little point in a redouble. You have no intention whatsoever of defending 1H doubled, even if partner should double that contract after a redouble from you. Instead you should ‘ignore the double’ and respond 1S. The bidding will then continue in the same way as if there had been no double.
West opened with a weak 2H and North’s double was for take-out. His subsequent 3H showed a powerful hand and South jumped to 4S because his hand was much stronger than it might have been. North’s 4NT was Roman Key-card Blackwood, South’s response showing the ace and king of trumps. How would you play 6S when West leads the king of hearts? There are three potential losers in the South hand and these must be reduced to one. The club loser can be discarded on the fourth round of diamonds, so if you can ruff one of the heart losers you will make the slam. The risk to be avoided is that you get locked in the North hand and cannot draw trumps. Declarer won the heart lead and played the queen of trumps. He then conceded a heart trick, preparing for a ruff. West won with the heart queen and switched to a diamond, won in the dummy. The key point of the deal had been reached. What would your next play have been? Declarer led the NINE of trumps to the ace, West showing out. He then ruffed his heart loser with the jack and led the seven of trumps to his eight. All that remained was to draw trumps and claim the balance.
Although you have 10 points, there is little point in a redouble. You have no intention whatsoever of defending 1H doubled, even if partner should double that contract after a redouble from you. Instead you should ‘ignore the double’ and respond 1S. The bidding will then continue in the same way as if there had been no double.
