Real Deal #71 (In Audrey Grant Magazine)
This Real Deal comes from Jerry Howarth.
| Vul:None Dlr: S |  J102 QJ1086 98 K97 | |
| 864 K943 KQ10 QJ3 | Q73 A5 7653 10652 | |
| AK95 72 AJ42 A84 |
| West | North | East | South |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1NT | |||
| Pass | 2 | Pass | 2 |
| All Pass |
The Auction
With a balanced 16 HCP, South should open 1NT. Having all 4 suits stopped is not required.
After West’s pass, North should transfer to hearts. My recommendation is to always (100% of the time) transfer into a 5-card major after partner opens 1NT (don’t try to outguess yourself). If partner makes a 1NT overcall, then I am willing to sometimes pass with a bad flat hand and a so-so 5-card major.
After the transfer, South has to bid 2 (in spite of holding two small hearts). That buys the contract (North is just shy of being able to invite game) and West is on lead.
The Play
A 3-card sequence would be a very desirable opening lead. In diamonds, West almost has 3 in a row and the K (because of the 10) is somewhat safe. This will cost only if dummy has Jxx (or longer) and declarer has the ace.
On the K lead, dummy plays low. What should East play? This is a situation that calls for an attitude signal. East doesn’t like diamonds (with the jack or the ace, an “equal honor to the king-queen,” East would like diamonds). Here, East plays the 3, low to discourage.
Declarer should also play low. Maybe the defense isn’t good at signalling and will continue the suit into the AJ, providing an extra trick.
No such luck. West reads partner’s signal and will switch suits at trick 2. The Q risks declarer having A10, but seems like the best way to attack (spades won’t accomplish anything). Because East has the 10, the Q turns out to be a good switch for the defense.
Declarer wants to lead towards dummy’s hearts, so wins the club in hand (this time, East plays the 6, encouraging—because the 10 opposite the jack is a good holding).
On the low heart lead at trick 3, West should play second hand low. Not only might partner have a singleton ace but playing low keeps West’s 9 in the game.
Not having x-ray vision, declarer puts up a high heart from dummy, losing to East’s ace.
East continues clubs (with a low one, in case the QJ was doubleton). Declarer plays low, West the jack, and dummy the king.
Looking at all the cards, we can see that the best play in hearts is for declarer to come back to hand to lead a heart and finesse dummy’s 8. In real life, there is no indication to play that way. In dummy, declarer will simply play a high heart (hoping they are 3-3 or that the 9 falls doubleton). West wins the K and cashes the good club, the 4th defensive trick.
Now, whatever West does, declarer will still make the contract. If necessary, declarer will probably play a high diamond and trump a diamond, setting up the J. Now there is no need for a spade finesse (a spade from dummy goes on the J). Declarer will eventually bang down the 10, disappointed to lose a 3rd heart trick (to West’s 9).
In all, declarer loses 3 hearts and 1 trick in each minor.
Yes, looking at all the cards, declarer could have done better, but +110 is an okay, if not normal result.
Lesson Points
1) You don’t need all 4 suits stopped to open 1NT.
2) Always transfer to a 5-card Major after partner’s 1NT opening (but not necessarily after a 1NT overcall).
3) KQ10 is slightly safer than QJx as an opening lead.
4) On partner’s lead, 3rd hand signals attitude.
5) When your king lead from KQ holds and partner discourages, you should usually shift to another suit.
6) Just because looking at all 4 hands a suit can be played “perfectly,” doesn’t mean that in real life declarer will play it that way.