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Answer You have just enough to venture a take-out double (much the best defence to play against pre-empts). Don’t worry that partner will respond in clubs. He will know that this is the least likely suit that you are interested in. Your heart suit is too weak for a 3H overcall. It would be better to pass than risk going for a big penalty, playing in that suit. Awards: Dble - 10, Pass - 6, 3H - 5. David Bird — Knight Features
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IT
was unusual for South to open 2C with only sixteen points. Playing
strong two-bids, 2D would be best. Otherwise many players would open
only 1D, intending to bid strongly thereafter. South’s 4D showed a
solid suit and North’s 4NT was Roman Key-card Blackwood, the
response showing two aces and the king of trumps. What would you lead
from that West hand? West belonged to the ‘lead an ace against a
slam’ school. He led the ace of clubs and South ruffed. It may seem
that the lead did not assist South too much, since there was no entry
to dummy. Take the South cards now. How would you continue? One
possibility was that West held the heart ace and that dummy’s queen
would provide an entry. Declarer was inclined to play for split aces,
however. After six rounds of trumps, he cashed the spade ace and ran
the ten of hearts. If East took his ace, the queen would be set up as
an entry to dummy. East ducked the first heart but found himself
end-played on the second round of the suit. He had to return a spade
or a club and declarer was able to discard his heart loser. A diamond
or a spade lead would have beaten the slam. A heart to the ace is also
successful, provided that East returns a heart.
What will you say now?