| Dealer: W | North ♠ J 8 4 ♥ A J 8 7 3 ♦ 5 3 ♣ Q 8 3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
East ♠ 6 ♥ 9 6 5 4 ♦ A Q 10 9 8 6 ♣ A 10 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lead: ♥K Bidding:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
By Mike Lawrence
| Dealer: W | North ♠ J 8 4 ♥ A J 8 7 3 ♦ 5 3 ♣ Q 8 3 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| West ♠ Q 7 5 3 2 ♥ K Q 10 ♦ K J 7 2 ♣ 4
|
East ♠ 6 ♥ 9 6 5 4 ♦ A Q 10 9 8 6 ♣ A 10 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| South ♠ A K 10 9 ♥ 2 ♦ 4 ♣ K J 9 7 6 5 2 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lead: ♥K Bidding:
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Do you see how the defense could have prevailed? All East has to do is let South win the king of clubs. This play will definitely stop South from setting up and using the hearts. If West has a spade trick, almost a guarantee on this bidding, five clubs will go down. A snap decision by East was the loser, as it is so often.
In the bidding, East had a decision to make in third seat. Should he open one diamond or two diamonds or should he pass?
East hated to open two diamonds in third seat with this good a hand and with a four card major on the side so tried one diamond instead.
This is an acceptable evaluation but it caused his side to defend against five clubs rather than bid to five diamonds, which has excellent chances of making. Perhaps East should have bid three diamonds over three clubs. Perhaps West should have bid five diamonds over five clubs. So many ifs.