SOUTH’s double of the 2D transfer bid showed that he would have doubled 1NT for penalties. This is a better use of the double than to indicate that you have a strong holding in diamonds. West led his two top hearts and declarer ruffed the second round. When he played the ace of trumps the jack fell from East. Suppose you had been playing the hand. How would you have continued? You cannot afford to play a trump to the ten at this stage because the fourth round of clubs would then be a problem. Declarer played accurately by leading a club towards dummy’s queen. West had no answer to this. If he rose with the king, declarer would subsequently ruff dummy’s last heart and cash three winners in clubs. When diamonds were played, West would have to ruff the third round and lead away from the trump queen. West in fact decided to play low on the first round of clubs. Declarer won with dummy’s queen, ruffed the jack of hearts and played king, ace and a third diamond. West ruffed but then had to lead away from one of his black honours. When he chose to play a club, declarer won with the jack, cashed the club ace and ruffed his last club.
The score is Game All. What will you say now?
Answer Partner is likely to hold three-card trump support. With four spades he would usually jump pre-emptively to 3S, or cue-bid 2H on a stronger hand. On such deals, your bidding should be guided by the Law of Total Trumps. With a total of eight trumps you should contest only to the eight-trick level (2S here). A Dutch world champion bid 3S on this hand recently and went three down vulnerable!
SOUTH’s double of the 2D transfer bid showed that he would have doubled 1NT for penalties. This is a better use of the double than to indicate that you have a strong holding in diamonds. West led his two top hearts and declarer ruffed the second round. When he played the ace of trumps the jack fell from East. Suppose you had been playing the hand. How would you have continued? You cannot afford to play a trump to the ten at this stage because the fourth round of clubs would then be a problem. Declarer played accurately by leading a club towards dummy’s queen. West had no answer to this. If he rose with the king, declarer would subsequently ruff dummy’s last heart and cash three winners in clubs. When diamonds were played, West would have to ruff the third round and lead away from the trump queen. West in fact decided to play low on the first round of clubs. Declarer won with dummy’s queen, ruffed the jack of hearts and played king, ace and a third diamond. West ruffed but then had to lead away from one of his black honours. When he chose to play a club, declarer won with the jack, cashed the club ace and ruffed his last club.
Answer