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BRIDGE BITES #102
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A REVEALING AUCTION
Brian Gunnell |
Both Vulnerable
West North East South
1♣ Pass 1♥
Pass 1♠
Pass 1NT
Pass 2♦
Pass 3♣
Pass 3NT
Pass Pass
Pass
The delicate N-S auction was
designed to determine whether they belonged in 3NT or 5♣. Eventually they chose
3NT but along the way they generously donated all sorts of useful information to
their opponents.
In fact, you are one of those
opponents, you are West and you are on opening lead. Your hand is:
♠
KT43
♥ 98632
♦
974
♣
9
It’s always a good idea to mull
over the auction before making the opening lead. What did North’s 2♦
mean?
►
It was inconceivable that N-S
would play in a Diamond contract, so West concluded that North was bidding out
his pattern, which appeared likely to be 4=1=3=5. By so doing, North was
indirectly saying to Partner (and to the opponents) “I am short in Hearts, if
your Hearts are weak then perhaps we belong in Clubs rather than 3NT”.
What do you deduce from South’s
bidding?
►
South has bid Hearts, after which
he would not bid No Trump without something in the unbid Diamond suit. For his
third bid he raised Clubs, at which point there didn’t seem to be much room for
a whole lot of Spades in his hand, maybe two but quite possibly only one. So,
what do you lead?
►
Not a Heart, nor a Club, those
can hardly be right. A Diamond lead doesn’t seem so appealing, either, with
North and South both indirectly showing something in the suit. That leaves a
Spade. Which one? Yes, you must lead the King, protecting against South
having a singleton Queen or Jack. Nicely done, the ♠K is the killing lead!
►
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♠ Q765
♥
7
♦
AK8
♣ AKQ86 |
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♠ KT43
♥
98632
♦
974
♣ 9 |
Dummy
West East
Declarer |
♠ A982
♥
AQ
♦
T52
♣ 7532 |
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♠ J
♥
KJT54
♦
QJ63
♣ JT4 |
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Of course, when the
♠K
holds the first trick, you'll be sure to follow up with the ♠T at Trick 2.
Bidding Footnote:
A more Neanderthal North would simply have raised 1NT to 3NT. Now West has
fewer clues. He might lead a top-of-nothing Diamond, he might lead a Spade, but
even if he chooses the latter there won’t be a compelling reason to lead the
spectacular King.
Carding Footnote:
In standard carding methods, East would play a high Spade to encourage the
opening lead, and a low one to discourage. In this deal, East obviously does
like the opening lead, but he cannot afford the luxury of encouraging with the
Nine. If he does so, then the defense can no longer score four Spades. So East
must play the Two, confident in the knowledge that his trusty Partner will
figure things out.
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