SOUTH
opened a 15-17 point 1NT and West overcalled 2S. North was playing the Lebensohl convention over intervention and his 3S showed (a) game values, (b) no spade stopper and (c) four hearts. How would you play 3 NT when West leads the five of spades, dummy’s ten wins the trick and East follows with the spade two? If East’s two is to be believed, he is showing an odd number of spades and the suit is breaking 5-3. The defenders will cash five tricks if you simply play a club next. A better idea is to cash your red-suit winners to put West under pressure. When you start with the three top hearts in your hand, West throws one club and one diamond. You countinue with the king and ace of diamonds and then play dummy’s ace of hearts, throwing a club. West does not like the look of this at all! He will not have to make a damaging discard, allowing to you to succeed in your contract. If he throws a diamond or the ace of clubs, he will present you with the extra trick you need directly. If instead he throws a spade, it will be safe for you to knock out the ace of clubs. Even if you could not read the lie of the spade suit, it would be good technique to cash the red-suit winners before playing a club.
What will you rebid on the West cards?
Answer With such a good six-card spade suit, it is best to rebid 2S. You may have an opportunity to show your hearts on the next round. Suppose, instead, that your major suits were A-9-8-7-5-2 and A-Q-J-3, again in an 11-point hand. You would then prefer to rebid 2H. Holding more points, perhaps 14 or 15, you would tend to rebid 2H (forcing) whatever the relative strengths of the two holdings.
SOUTH
opened a 15-17 point 1NT and West overcalled 2S. North was playing the Lebensohl convention over intervention and his 3S showed (a) game values, (b) no spade stopper and (c) four hearts. How would you play 3 NT when West leads the five of spades, dummy’s ten wins the trick and East follows with the spade two? If East’s two is to be believed, he is showing an odd number of spades and the suit is breaking 5-3. The defenders will cash five tricks if you simply play a club next. A better idea is to cash your red-suit winners to put West under pressure. When you start with the three top hearts in your hand, West throws one club and one diamond. You countinue with the king and ace of diamonds and then play dummy’s ace of hearts, throwing a club. West does not like the look of this at all! He will not have to make a damaging discard, allowing to you to succeed in your contract. If he throws a diamond or the ace of clubs, he will present you with the extra trick you need directly. If instead he throws a spade, it will be safe for you to knock out the ace of clubs. Even if you could not read the lie of the spade suit, it would be good technique to cash the red-suit winners before playing a club.
With such a good six-card spade suit, it is best to rebid 2S. You may have an opportunity to show your hearts on the next round. Suppose, instead, that your major suits were A-9-8-7-5-2 and A-Q-J-3, again in an 11-point hand. You would then prefer to rebid 2H. Holding more points, perhaps 14 or 15, you would tend to rebid 2H (forcing) whatever the relative strengths of the two holdings.