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Enterprising defence….and bidding!

Today’s deal has a few interesting angles. The question posed below is for a defender.

 

2NT was 20-22 balanced. West led K which held the first trick and continued with T which was taken by declarer’s ace as you discarded a heart. Declarer continued with the top 4 spades on which your partner discarded 62 and declarer a small club from dummy. Next came A from South with West playing 6. Any thoughts?

It was apparent that West had started with a considerable number of diamonds. Their carding indicated they still held QJT and maybe also 7. They would be very keen, therefore, to gain the lead. With South starting with a minimum 20 hcp, West could hold up to an 11 count. 6 of those were in diamonds with the other 5 just maybe in hearts…even KQ. If that were the case, then you can win the Q on the second round and play a heart.

However, that will only work if South specifically held a 20/21 count and West held KJ or KQ. There was another option:

 

Your partner certainly has honour cards outside diamonds. If one honour happens to be J, then a quick piece of unblocking would be required to beat 3NT. If East played low to the A, declarer will lose the lead twice to East and will use K to reach dummy and will indeed make their contract with an overtrick, losing just a diamond and two clubs. Should J win the second round of the suit, West will enjoy the remainder of their diamonds.

Such an unblock is not necessarily going to beat the contract (indeed had South held J, it would allow them to make an otherwise impossible contract) though the unblock seemed to offer more opportunity for the defence than specifically playing partner for KQ or KJ. 

A Risky Bid

Some West players entered the bidding with 3. Such a bid, over a 20-22hcp opening might sometimes disrupt the bidding though the 2272 shape should put them off. If South reopens with a take-out double, East should “take the money” which can beat even those who bid and made 3NT.

As long as the defence take their 4 major suit tricks early, a fourth round of hearts (declarer has to ruff high on the third round) can actually promote a trump trick for North. Those excellent diamond pips are not quite excellent enough! That would be down 3…+500.

A special holding

However, there is something special about the South hand and that is the solid 4-card spade suit. It can just about be regarded as a 5-card suit and were North to bid 3 after South’s 2NT, checking on 4/5 card majors, South could own up to holding a 5-card suit and the only making game contract would be reached.

North’s 9 is certainly a very useful card but after a high diamond lead, declarer can win, play 2 top hearts and ruff a heart, return to hand with a club (to prevent West throwing both their small clubs) and ruff a second heart before drawing trumps. 10 tricks can thus be made…4 spades, AK, 2 heart ruffs and both minor aces. The power of AKQJ lives on!

Richard Solomon

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