THIS
is a defensive problem for East, so cover the West and South hands.
West leads the nine of spades against 4H. The ten is played from dummy
and, sitting East, you win with the jack. What next? Partner’s lead
is either a singleton or a doubleton. You continue with the ace of
spades and both the closed hands follow. Your ace of diamonds is
likely to score a third trick for the defence. If partner holds Q-x or
10-x-x in the trump suit, a third round of spades will promote a
fourth trick for the defence in trumps. Should you lead a spade at
Trick 3? No, because if declarer holds only one diamond he will
discard it. Even if you do promote a trump trick, the contract will
still be made. So, to guard against declarer holding only one diamond
you should cash the diamond ace at Trick 3. Only then do you lead
another spade. When the cards lie as in the diagram, your partner has
a magic Q-x of trumps and you beat the contract. Suppose next that the
dummy was a little weaker, with a diamond holding of Q-J-2. There
would then be a dual purpose in cashing the ace of diamonds. If
partner held the diamond king and a trump holding that offered no hope
of a promotion, he would encourage a diamond continuation by playing a
high card.
What will you say on the
West cards? What future plans to you have?
Answer: An overcall of 2C would not be natural. Most players use it to show both major suits (a Michaels cue-bid). An overcall of 3C would be natural but you are hardly worth such an action. The best idea is to pass on the first round, hoping to bid clubs on the next round. If the opponents’ bidding is something like 1C — 1D — 1S, you can enter with 2C on the second round.
THIS
is a defensive problem for East, so cover the West and South hands.
West leads the nine of spades against 4H. The ten is played from dummy
and, sitting East, you win with the jack. What next? Partner’s lead
is either a singleton or a doubleton. You continue with the ace of
spades and both the closed hands follow. Your ace of diamonds is
likely to score a third trick for the defence. If partner holds Q-x or
10-x-x in the trump suit, a third round of spades will promote a
fourth trick for the defence in trumps. Should you lead a spade at
Trick 3? No, because if declarer holds only one diamond he will
discard it. Even if you do promote a trump trick, the contract will
still be made. So, to guard against declarer holding only one diamond
you should cash the diamond ace at Trick 3. Only then do you lead
another spade. When the cards lie as in the diagram, your partner has
a magic Q-x of trumps and you beat the contract. Suppose next that the
dummy was a little weaker, with a diamond holding of Q-J-2. There
would then be a dual purpose in cashing the ace of diamonds. If
partner held the diamond king and a trump holding that offered no hope
of a promotion, he would encourage a diamond continuation by playing a
high card.
Answer: An overcall of 2C would not be natural. Most players use it to show both major suits (a Michaels cue-bid). An overcall of 3C would be natural but you are hardly worth such an action. The best idea is to pass on the first round, hoping to bid clubs on the next round. If the opponents’ bidding is something like 1C — 1D — 1S, you can enter with 2C on the second round.