NORTH had a borderline double raise and South’s immediate leap to a slam was on the ambitious side too. As a result, the contract was a poor one. Look at it now as a defensive problem from the East hand. Your partner leads the queen of hearts, won with dummy’s king. Declarer now calls for a low diamond from dummy. Will you play the six or an honour? Does it make any difference? The original occupant of the East seat could see no reason to play high. He followed the standard adage ‘second hand plays low’ and contributed the six of diamonds to the trick. Declarer played the ten from his hand and West won with the queen. Declarer won the second round of hearts, drew trumps and cashed the diamond ace, dropping the jack from East. He then crossed to dummy with the ace of clubs and ruffed a diamond. Beginning to regret his earlier defence, East now saw his king ruffed. Dummy’s nine of diamonds was established and declarer had twelve tricks. East should have played an honour on the first round of diamonds, making sure that his honours contributed to the first two rounds of the suit. Declarer would then have had no way to make the slam.
What will you say now?
Answer
You should complete for the part-score by bidding 3D. You and your partner hold not far short of half the pack between you and you have a seven-card suit. It would be poor tactics indeed to allow the opponents to choose trumps when you could compete at the three level.
NORTH had a borderline double raise and South’s immediate leap to a slam was on the ambitious side too. As a result, the contract was a poor one. Look at it now as a defensive problem from the East hand. Your partner leads the queen of hearts, won with dummy’s king. Declarer now calls for a low diamond from dummy. Will you play the six or an honour? Does it make any difference? The original occupant of the East seat could see no reason to play high. He followed the standard adage ‘second hand plays low’ and contributed the six of diamonds to the trick. Declarer played the ten from his hand and West won with the queen. Declarer won the second round of hearts, drew trumps and cashed the diamond ace, dropping the jack from East. He then crossed to dummy with the ace of clubs and ruffed a diamond. Beginning to regret his earlier defence, East now saw his king ruffed. Dummy’s nine of diamonds was established and declarer had twelve tricks. East should have played an honour on the first round of diamonds, making sure that his honours contributed to the first two rounds of the suit. Declarer would then have had no way to make the slam.
You should complete for the part-score by bidding 3D. You and your partner hold not far short of half the pack between you and you have a seven-card suit. It would be poor tactics indeed to allow the opponents to choose trumps when you could compete at the three level.