created by Tony Poole.
URL: http://www.hiltonproperty.co.uk/bridge
Famous (or infamous) hands
Written by Gordon Clark
During the 1994 Bridge Centenary celebrations, at West Midlands Bridge Club, we ran an evening of playing "famous hands"! These were hands compiled by Gordon Clark from local bridge events. Many have an X rated certificate! They make an excellent set of hands for a Simultaneous Pairs event. The commentary to each hand is often amusing.
Hand No1
Love All, Dealer North
S K 2 H 6 5 2 D K 10 8 7 6 C K 9 2 S 10 9 8 6 5 S 7 4 3 H 10 3 H Q J 7 D Q 5 4 2 D A J 9 C A 3 S Q J 5 4 S A Q J H A K 9 8 4 D 3 C 10 8 7 4Contracts may range from 2H to 4H with some in No-trumps. South found himself in 4H on the lead of the 10 of spades.
South discarded a club on the third spade, led a diamond to the King and Ace. East returned a trump and although the Ace of clubs is right, South failed to make more than nine tricks.
4H can be made if South leads a diamond early on, ducking. East will probably return a trump, South should win, play a spade to the King, ruff a diamond then discard a club on the third spade. South now leads the low club, West wins and probably plays another trump. Declarer can now play a low club to the King, ruff a diamond - which brings down the Ace. He can now trump the third round of clubs and the fourth goes on the established diamond King. Well played!
S K Q H K J 8 7 5 3 D 9 6 3 C 6 4 S A J 10 8 7 6 5 2 S 9 4 3 H - H 10 D 10 5 D K J 7 2 C Q 10 2 C K 9 8 7 3 S - H A Q 9 6 4 2 D A Q 8 4 C A J 5This hand caused some fireworks when first played in a Business Houses' league match earlier this season. After South opened 1H and West overcalled 3S (4S would give N-S more problems) North bid 4H and East 4S. After South's 5D, North jumped to 6H, the red blooded South now bid the Grand Slam.
In room 1, West misled his partner by leading the 10 of clubs which East did not cover. South drew the trump and eliminated spades. He then ran the remaining hearts. In the end game East foolishly discarded two diamonds thinking that South originally held the club A Q J, thus allowing the Grand Slam to make. If East had played the club King at trick one, even the Small Slam is defeated.
In Room 2 South played in a more sensible 6H which failed on a less friendly defence. At the vulnerability, E-W might be tempted to sacrifice at a high level.
S 9 4 H Q 9 6 2 D 9 6 4 2 C A 7 6 S 7 5 3 S A Q J H K J 8 H A 10 4 D Q J 10 D A 7 3 C K 10 9 3 C Q J 8 4 S K 10 8 6 2 H 7 5 3 D K 8 5 C 5 2E-W are likely to play this in 3NT with East as declarer and a spade lead.
It is tempting for declarer to knock out the Ace of clubs. This is likely to lead to defeat when North wins and pushes his second spade through as South has the diamond King. Although East can still scrape home if he finds the heart Queen, the correct line is to cross to the heart King at trick 2 and take the diamond finesse. South cannot profitably continue spades without conceding a trick. East can now knock out the club Ace and make his contract with two spades, two hearts, two diamonds and three clubs, with overtrick possibilities if South continues spades or hearts when in with the diamond King.
S K H 2 D A K Q J 9 8 7 6 C K J 2 S A 6 2 S Q J 7 4 3 H J109543 H - D 10 D 5 4 3 C 9 4 3 C 10 8 7 6 5 S 10 9 8 5 H A K Q 8 7 6 D 2 C A QA hand from the Premier Invitation Pairs. Contracts ranged from 3NT through 6H, 6NT (doubled and making!) to 7D - also making when East did not find the spade lead.
The par contract is 6D played by North after the bidding:
N S 1H 3D 3H 4D 5C (cue bid) 6D -East found the spade lead and declarer was congratulating himself on arriving at an excellent contract (with a 99% plus likelihood of making) when his smile was quickly removed by West's heart return which East ruffed - one off! I hope any partnerships that allow 6NT or 7D to come home are still speaking to each other.
S 9 6 H K 9 5 2 D 7 3 C Q 10 8 6 3 S K J 10 2 S A Q 8 7 5 H Q 8 4 H A 7 6 3 D A K 9 D J 10 6 C A K 2 C 4 S 4 3 H J 10 D Q 8 5 4 2 C J 8 7 5Another hand from the Premier Invitation Pairs. If East opens this hand, and I suspect most will, West is unlikely to stop short of 6S - or even 6NT if gambling for a top.
In 6S by East, the hand hinges on negotiating the heart suit for only one loser - assuming the diamond finesse to be right. East will probably cash the Ace of hearts and play a small one towards the Queen hoping that South has the heart King. If East persists with this line the result will be minus one along with most of the original players of this hand. However the sight of the J10 of hearts should cause East to change his line. If he has been careful to eliminate the diamonds and clubs before starting the hearts and then ducks the second heart, South will be forced to concede a ruff-discard and the contract is home! Why is it that dummy always spots the right line and not declarer?
S 10 5 H 9 8 7 3 D 6 3 C A K 8 5 4 S A K J 7 3 2 S Q 8 4 H 6 H J 4 2 D Q J 8 7 2 D 9 5 4 C Q C J 10 6 2 S 9 6 H A K Q 10 5 D A K 10 C 9 7 3This hand is likely to be highly competitive. After South's obvious 1H opener, West will either overcall in spades or show a two suiter via a Michael's cue bid or Ghestem. When the hand was first played, N-S had stopped in 3H but East competed to 3S after West had shown a strong spade-diamond two suiter. South now bid a belated 4H, West an aggressive 4S and North's double concluded the auction.
Best defence sets 4S by two tricks leaving E-W with a bottom. If North fails to get his diamond ruff, the contract is a good sacrifice against the easy heart game. How did you do?
S K Q 2 H K 9 7 5 D J 8 C J 7 5 3 S 9 7 S A J 10 5 4 H Q 8 6 3 2 H J 4 D K 6 D 5 4 C K Q 6 2 C A 10 9 8 S 8 6 3 H A 10 D A Q 10 9 7 3 2 C 4A variety of contracts are possible on this hand, and I suspect the results will vary significantly. I doubt if many North-Souths will play in 1NT doubled, which is what happened when the hand was first played. South opened 1D, West overcalled 1H, North bidding 1NT, and East's double concluded the auction. South took a huge gamble by not removing to 2D.
His optimism was rewarded when East led the Jack of hearts. The best East-West could now do was to hold the contract to 7 tricks for minus 180. A spade lead and subsequent return by West creates plus 800.
S K 10 9 6 H 8 7 2 D A 6 C K J 8 3 S Q J 8 7 3 S - H K Q J H 9 5 3 D K Q 7 2 D 10 9 8 5 4 2 C 4 C A 6 5 2 S A 5 4 2 H A 10 6 4 D J C Q 10 9 7After a normal 1S opener from West, East's response (if any) will determine the course of the auction. When this hand was originally played in a county match earlier this season, most E-W's played in a part score in diamonds. On occasion N-S found their club or spade fit. At one table, with N-S passing throughout, the auction proceeded: 1S by West, 1NT by East (hoping to find a better spot). East was most surprised when West rebid 2D and decided to show how much his hand had improved on the bidding by jumping to 4C - a cue bid showing the Ace of clubs and strong diamond support. With no aces West could do any more than bid 4D. East raised to 5D on the strength of his spade void.
North found the best lead of Ace and another diamond, but West brought the hand home when the spades broke 4-4. Five diamonds bid and made on a combined 18 count!
S K 10 2 H K 9 5 D Q 8 5 2 C 7 6 2 S J 6 S A Q 8 H Q J 4 3 H A 10 7 6 D A 7 4 3 D K J 10 6 C Q J 3 C 9 4 S 9 7 5 4 3 H 8 2 D 9 C A K 10 8 5An interesting hand which East - West will probably play in 4H unless South enters the auction over a weak no trump opening from East. Intervention from South is not for the faint hearted but often works well at pairs, particularly if the vulnerability is favourable. At the table South ventured two clubs over East's 1NT opener, promising clubs and another. West doubled showing the values for a raise to 2NT. North, with little in his hand passed, prompting 2H from East, raised to 3 by West, and East with a maximum bid one for the road.
The play was soon over when East took every finesse in sight after South had led three rounds of clubs. The auction may have taken a different turn had North removed the double. With better cards in all other suits North could have bid 2D asking South to convert to his other suit. E-W may then have missed the heart suit and ended up doubling South in 2S for a likely plus 300 - not a good score against 620. No doubt some East-West's will be in the no trump game, making in comfort unless East takes the diamond finesse into North after a low club lead from South.
S K J 7 H 9 7 6 5 D Q 6 C J 9 8 4 S 10 9 5 S Q 6 4 3 H J 3 2 H 10 4 D J 10 8 3 2 D 9 4 C K 3 C Q 10 7 5 2 S A 8 2 H A K Q 8 D A K 7 5 C A 6You may find the story of this hand hard to believe, but I can assure you that it happened. I will even reveal the identity of South for a pint. The scene Gold Cup Round 3. Our heroes are 29IMPs down when this hand came up. East dealt and passed at game all, and playing Benjamin Acol, South opened a game forcing 2D. North relayed 2H, South bid the obvious 2NT and North raised to 3NT. You may have expected the auction to end here, but North's face was a picture when South now essayed SIX HEARTS !! (For some reason he decided that North's 2H bid showed hearts).
North brightened visibly when East led a club and saw that the contract apparently depended on the doomed spade finesse and a 3-2 heart break. North ducked the lead and West now came to the rescue by switching to the spade 10, covered by the Jack, Queen and Ace. North could then take the marked spade finesse against West's 9 and was soon chalking up 1430 in the plus column. This result so demoralised the opposition that they went on to lose the match by 45IMP's!
S K 9 6 3 H Q D A K J 6 C A 10 8 3 S J 8 S Q 10 4 2 H 10 9 8 H K J 6 4 2 D Q 3 D 9 8 4 C K Q J 6 4 2 C 9 S A 7 5 H A 7 5 3 D 10 7 5 2 C 7 5After South's pass, much will depend on whether West believes in the modern style of pre-empting 3C on hands like this one. Playing double for take-out, North has a problem. The best bid is probably 3NT, although this has flaws. 3NT will go down on most reasonable defences, so long as East avoids the fatal low heart lead which North can run to his singleton Queen. When the hand occurred in a Gold Cup match, West opened 3C (whatever happened to the rule of 500?), and North had the luxury of playing double for penalties for plus 500. At the other table, South and West passed. North opened a diamond, South bid one heart, and West entered the fray with 2C. North's double for blood was pulled to 2D by South, (South might well pass 2C with 2 Aces despite the diamond support) and North, conservatively passed for plus 130. Given a free auction N-S are likely to arrive in 2 or 3 No Trumps.
S K 9 6 H J 7 5 3 2 D A 10 4 C 10 8 S A 8 5 2 S J H A 6 4 H Q D K J D Q 9 8 7 2 C J 7 6 5 C A K Q 9 4 2 S Q 10 7 4 3 H K 10 9 8 D 6 5 3 C 3Another hand from the Gold Cup, and both East's fell from grace by settling for the unambitious 3NT by West, which deservedly got its just reward of minus one on a heart lead from North. This contract is understandable at pairs, but unforgivable at teams when the object of the exercise is to bid to the safest making game or slam. In Room 1, West opened the obvious 1NT and East bid a conventional 2NT to show a minor two suiter. Inexplicably he then bid 3NT after finding his partner's club fit. Even more horrors were to be found in Room 2, where West opened 1C. East bid diamonds, and after West's 1S re-bid kept the auction going with a fourth suit forcing 2H. This tortuous sequence produced 2NT from West and East created something of a record by closing the auction with 3NT without mentioning his 6 card club support once! I hope my faith in common sense bidding is justified tonight. Surely some pairs are going to get to 6C?
Hand No13
Game all, Dealer North
S 3 3
H Q 7 4
D A K 6 4 2
C Q J 4 2
S A Q 7 5 S 10 9 8 4 2
H A 8 6 5 3 H K 10
D Q J 10 9 D 5 3
C - C A 10 8 6
S K J 6
H J 9 2
D 8 7
C K 9 7 5 3
Another hand from a Dawes County match versus Lincolnshire. After North's 1D opener and South's probable 1NT response, West has a problem. If he passes and North resists the temptation to rebid 2C, N-S are likely to buy the hand in a part score. However, if North does rebid and South either raises to 3 or passes, West can now double to show both major suits. At the table West bid 2H and North 3C. This was passed back to West who doubled - meaning what? East, after much thought, decided this was for take-out and boldly jumped to 4S.
N-S started off with three rounds of diamonds, ruffed by East with the 8 and over-ruffed with the Jack by South. To make 4S now East must play South for both honours after his 1NT response. A less likely and unsuccessful line would be to play North for a singleton King. I fully expect a wide range of contracts both ways on this hand.
S Q 8 7 4
H J
D A Q 10 2
C 7 6 4 2
S - S A K J 9 6 5
H A 9 8 7 6 H 3
D K J 8 7 D 6 5 3
C K Q J 3 C 10 8 5
S 10 3 2
H K Q 10 5 4 2
D 9 4
C A 9
No doubt contracts will range from 2H by South to 3NT or worse by either side. Omar Sharif opened a weak 2S on the East hand, South overcalled 3H which West doubled with a vengeance fully expecting a large plus score for his side. A large plus score was obtained but not by E-W.
West led the King of clubs which South ducked to prevent East gaining the lead later with the 10 in order to play spades. On the alternative low heart lead, and South's play of a club to the 9, (again to keep East off lead), declarer will still prevail and make his contract by finessing the Queen of diamonds and ruffing two clubs in hand. The only defence to beat this contract is for West to switch to the King of diamonds before South cashes his club Ace! Hands up anyone who found that play.
S A 2 A 2
H K Q 10
D K 9 8 4 3 2
C J 6
S Q J 4 3 S 10 9 7 5
H J 6 4 3 H 5 2
D J 7 D 10 6 5
C K 9 8 C Q 10 7 5
S K 8 6
H A 9 8 7
D A Q
C A 4 3 2
This hand comes from the Warwickshire Pairs final and none of the distinguished company found the cold contracts of D or 6NT. A typical auction might be - South 1H, North 2D and South 2NT (if played as forcing) or 3NT. A suggested route to the winning spot might be 1H, 2D, 2NT, 3D (forcing), 4D, 4S (cue bid), 5C (cue bid), 5H (cue bid), 6D or 6NT. However it is easy to see how the slam could be missed, especially at pairs, so any pairs who find the slam have done well.
S A 7 5 H 7 5 4 2 D K 6 C K J 10 4 S K J 10 8 6 S 4 3 2 H A Q J 10 9 H K 8 6 2 D A Q 10 D 8 C - C A Q 8 5 S Q 9 H - D J 9 7 5 4 3 2 C 9 7 6 2Before anyone complains about computer deals, this hand was dealt at the table in this year's Gold Cup competition. West has a difficult opening bid, but I would support the 1S chosen at the table rather than a forcing two opener. After North passed, East responded with 2C and West rebid 2H (forcing in his system). East had enough to raise to three. West eventually settled for 6S after an exchange of cue bids. This contract came home after a finesse of the spade Jack brought the Ace. North could have beaten the contract with a heart lead to South's void. In Room 2 6H presented a lesser risk and also came home.
S Q J 10 H A 8 4 D K J C K 10 8 7 3 S 6 5 4 S 9 7 3 H K Q J 9 5 3 H 7 6 2 D A D 6 5 4 3 2 C A Q 4 C 6 5 S A K 8 2 H 10 D Q 10 9 8 7 C J 9 2A hand to reward the scientists, which brought a 480 point swing in a match earlier this season. At one table North opened 1NT and ended in 3NT - down 2 - after South had bid a Stayman 2C and West competed strongly in hearts. At the other table North also opened 1NT, South bid 2C (Stayman), West 2H and North passed having no major. South now bid a natural 3D also promising 11 points plus the unbid major. Instead of bashing 3NT, North bid 3H asking for help in the suit. South could not oblige and responded 3S. North now found the winning bid of 4S, deliberately choosing the known 4-3 fit. This contract made in comfort when both clubs and spades behaved well. West could hardly be faulted for doubling 3NT which may cause some pairs to run to the making spade or club games.
S A J 10 H 10 5 2 D 7 6 3 2 C K 4 2 S Q S 8 6 5 3 H A Q 8 H K 6 3 D K J 9 5 D A Q C Q 9 8 5 3 C A J 10 7 S K 9 7 4 2 H J 9 7 4 D 10 8 4 C 6A deal most likely to be played in 3NT by East on the normal 1NT opener. The contract hinges on South's choice of opening lead. He will strike gold if he hits on the aggressive spade, but on any other lead E-W will soon wrap up 12 tricks with the aid of the club finesse. E-W's who find their club fit and play in it may be rewarded if the South players tonight find the spade opening in sufficient numbers. A virtuous +400 against a possible -50, however I suspect that +490 will be a more common score.
S A 7 5 3 2 H 10 6 D A J 6 C J 6 5 S 8 4 S Q 9 6 H J K 9 8 4 H J 7 5 2 D 9 7 D Q 10 5 2 C Q 7 4 3 2 C K 10 S K J 10 H A Q 3 D K 8 4 2 C A 9 8This hand will probably lead to a 4S contract by North or 3NT by South. Against 4S East has a very difficult lead as all suits can give a trick away. At the table East found what appeared to be the best lead of a small heart. Declarer did well not to play the Queen but ducked the lead and West was forced to play the King. West switched to a low club to the 10 and Ace. North now played two rounds of hearts discarding a club loser. The choice now seems to be between the diamond finesse and finding the Queen of spades. Declarer chose a good line when he did neither and exited with his remaining club to East's now bare King. East found himself end-played and had to guarantee the contract by a diamond or spade switch or a ruff and discard in hearts.
S A Q 10 9 3 H A K 6 4 3 D 3 C 8 5 S 8 S K J 6 2 H Q 9 7 5 H 10 8 2 D J 9 7 6 5 D A K C A K 4 C Q J 9 2 S 7 5 4 H J D Q 10 8 4 2 C 10 7 6 3A hand from a third round match in this year's Gold Cup. After West's initial pass (I know several people who might open this hand - but not me), North opened proceedings with 1S passed round to West who reopened with a balancing double. North now tried 2H, doubled confidently by East. He felt even more confident when South corrected to 2S - also doubled, and this became the final contract.
A trump lead may have put the contract at risk, but East not unreasonably cashed a top diamond and then switched to a club. West took two rounds and then switched to a trump. North sensibly rose with the Ace, cashed the heart AK, ruffed a heart in dummy and a diamond in hand, and then led his fourth heart. East was forced to ruff with the Jack to prevent dummy's 7 scoring, and the contract came home. E-W made a diamond, two clubs and two trumps for -670 and a long argument.
S A 6 H Q 10 3 2 D 5 3 2 C 9 8 7 6 S K 5 2 S 10 8 4 3 H K 7 4 H J 9 6 D A Q 9 7 D K 10 4 C A Q 5 C J 4 3 S Q J 9 7 H A 8 5 D J 8 6 C K 10 2A part score effort to give you a rest from all these games and slams. After three passes West opened a diamond, East scraped up 1S - enough to silence South and West's rebid of 2NT closed the auction.
North has a choice of club or heart leads. On the chosen heart lead to the Ace, South switched to the spade Queen ducked by West. South then continued hearts, North won and cleared the suit. Declarer crossed to the diamond King, took the club finesse and then did well to create his eighth trick by leading a small spade from hand which brought down the now singleton Ace. Well played, but declarer is unlikely to make if South can avoid the spade switch.
S 8 H K 7 6 D Q 7 3 2 C Q 10 9 8 5 S A K S J 9 5 3 H A 10 9 5 3 H Q 8 4 2 D A 6 D 10 9 5 C 7 6 3 2 C A 4 S Q 10 7 6 4 2 H J D K J 8 4 C K JIf looks as if 4H will make for E-W, but reasonable defence should defeat it. South opened a weak 2S third in hand, West bravely overcalled 3H, raised to game by East.
North led the obvious singleton, ducked to West's King. To avoid the impending ruff, West played Ace and another heart to North's King, who switched to a diamond in response to South's signal. Declarer won, drew the last trump and cashed the spade Ace followed by a club to dummy's Ace. A spade was ruffed, and a club played to South's King who now returned a diamond. Try as he might, declarer eventually ran out of trumps and could come to no more than 9 tricks for one off.
S J 5 3 2 H A Q J 4 D Q 2 C K 3 2 S 9 S K Q 8 4 H 8 7 5 2 H 10 3 D A 4 D J 9 7 6 C J 10 8 7 6 4 C A Q 9 S A 10 7 6 H K 9 6 D K 10 8 5 3 C 5A variety of contracts are feasible on this deal. In a pairs competition North opened a third in hand 1H, doubled by East. South redoubled, West bid the obvious 2C, passed back to South who showed his diamond suit. West persevered with 3C, again presenting South with a problem. His final choice of 3H closed the auction.
East kicked off with the A Q of clubs, the second of which was trumped in dummy. Declarer led a diamond to the Queen which held and continued with a diamond to the 10 and Ace. West switched to his singleton spade which ran to the Queen and Ace. Declarer now drew four rounds of trumps and knocked out East's remaining spade honour for plus 170. The re-double meant that the spade fit was lost. A contract of 4S is perfectly reasonable, but the 4-1 break may prove difficult for declarer unless played well.
S 7 3 2 H K J 8 4 3 D A 5 4 C 7 3 S 9 8 6 5 S - H 7 H Q 6 5 D Q J 8 7 6 3 2 D 10 C Q C A K J 9 8 6 5 4 2 S A K Q J 10 4 H A 10 9 2 D K 9 C 10A monster hand which could be played in 5 or 6 clubs by E-W or a major slam by N-S. After a recommended third in hand 5 bid by East, South is on the spot. Double, 5S and 6C are all possibilities.
In 6S and after a club lead South should ruff the likely continuation high and draw trumps in four rounds. Before broaching the vital heart suit two rounds of diamonds should be played. At this point East can be counted for nine clubs, one diamond and no spades. He must therefore hold three hearts so South brings home the contract by playing a heart to the king and finessing the 10 on the way back. In 6H declarer will probably get the suit wrong, unless E-W helpfully play two rounds of clubs. When West fails to over-ruff declarer's 9 or 10 a similar position as before is reached. On any other defence South can hardly be blamed for either finessing West for the vital Queen of hearts or playing for the drop.
Hand No25
E-W Vulnerable, Dealer North
S A K 10 9 H K Q J 3 D A J C 8 7 6 S 8 S Q 5 2 H A 5 4 2 H 10 6 D K Q 10 9 5 3 D 8 7 6 4 C Q 10 C A 9 5 3 S J 7 6 4 3 H 9 8 7 D 2 C K J 4 2In a teams match, North opened 1H, South scraped up a 1S response, and West applied the pressure with an intermediate 3D overcall. This back-fired when North confidently raised to 4S, and East was tempted (not unreasonably) into the 5D sacrifice, doubled for minus 300. E-W will be disappointed as the spade game will go off barring an inept defence in the club suit.
S A K J H K 7 5 2 D J 8 4 C J 10 9 S 9 7 6 S 2 H Q 9 8 6 H 10 4 D 3 2 D A K Q 10 9 7 6 C K Q 6 2 C 7 5 3 S Q 10 8 5 4 3 H A J 3 D 5 C A 8 4East can make life difficult for North-South by opening a gambling 3NT or a second best 3D on this hand. North-South should still get to the spade game.
If like me, you went one down in 4S after taking two finesses in clubs and one in hearts, and bemoaned your luck when they were all wrong, you have misplayed the hand! A foolproof line on a probable diamond lead is to ruff the likely diamond continuation, cross to a spade and trump a third diamond high noting West's discard. West's remaining trumps are drawn, and declarer can now take a losing club finesse to West. West has an unpalatable choice of returning a club or heart, either of which presents the contract to a grateful South for plus 620 and a near top, I would guess. Easy when you think about it!
S 9 8 2 H K J D Q 7 2 C Q J 9 8 3 S 7 S A K 4 3 H Q 8 6 4 H A 10 7 5 3 D 4 3 2 D K 6 5 C A 10 7 6 5 2 C 4 S Q J 10 6 5 H 9 2 D A J 10 9 8 C KAn annoying hand which I shall remember for some time. It was only when I was writing the hand up that I realised that East-West have a cold game on in hearts barring the unlikely lead of the diamond Queen from North. In a vital relegation battle in the Warwickshire League, with East-West silent throughout, South opened 1S, North responded 2C, South re-bid 2D, North corrected to 2S and South wisely passed after some thought.
A heart was led, with dummy's Jack bringing the Ace from East who passively returned a heart. A spade was led to the 10 which held. Not seeing the danger, South played the club King to West's Ace. The club continuation was ruffed by East, over-ruffed by South. The trump continuation was fatal - East was able to win, cash a third round, and lead a heart forcing declarer to use his last trump. Declarer was now unable to take the diamond finesse, and embarrassingly finished down two on a hand that should be up one.
S 6 H K D J 9 8 6 5 4 C K Q 9 8 7 S 7 5 4 S 3 2 H A J 9 7 2 H Q 8 6 D A K 2 D Q 7 3 C 10 2 C A J 6 5 4 S A K Q J 10 9 8 H 10 5 4 D 10 C 3No doubt Terence Reese wouldn't approve of North's action on this deal after West opened 1H, but aggressive bidding is often unjustly rewarded. His unusual 2NT overcall brought a double from East (3H or pass are better) and South ventured 4S. After two passes the spotlight is on East. In the cold light of day double or pass are obvious alternatives, but at the table East bid 5H, promptly doubled by South for minus 300 instead of plus 800 against 4S on best defence.
created by Tony Poole.
URL: http://www.hiltonproperty.co.uk/bridge
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