A nice variation on this hand is to swap the AD and 4D and have West duck the first diamond. Just as likely and now the second diamond allows the defense to finish with two hearts, two diamonds and a club. South did not support hearts so it is not outrageous to believe he started life with (at best) Qx in hearts and lead the KH followed by a heart to East taking advantage of North’s very poor spot cards. East can then cash out.
I think West should find that line in this fantasy variation. I think with three hearts, South would have ventured 2H just to see how serious North was about his hearts. But if not, he can lead back the 7C to partner’s (obvious) AC and East can cash the diamond and (hopefully) lead back a heart on the theory that West led his lowest club and thus wants back the lower of hearts and spades. Better to me though to just lead the KH. And, as Bobby would say, great is the fall thereon.
Cheers,
Jeff
Iain ClimieNovember 26th, 2025 at 10:58 am
Hi Jeff,
Interesting thoughts. Funny how many of these hands (when overbidding is rewarded by good play, lucky lie of the cards and maybe a defensive slip) get written up but there are huge numbers where 2 or 3 off results in a fair size swing or a bottom. I might have passed 2D today as North but what do I know? I’d probably risk 3C (I always did like bidding) but maybe the lesson here is that 3N is the contract most likely to be let through when it shouldn’t make.
Regards,
Iain
Jeff SerandosNovember 26th, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Hi Iain,
I often feel afflicted by Jim’s TOCM as the good play rewarded in columns so often goes wrong for me irl. Here, I would be zero-percent shocked to see West produce the AD, follow up with the KH and take down my contract.
It is hard to fault North’s 3C bid as he had the discipline to pass on his first bid so he is not really overselling his hand, I don’t think I could have passed 2D. I’d expect partner to pass, correct to 3H or bid 3NT. I am sympathetic to East too, AC is undoubtedly right, but it sure feels wrong in the moment.
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Hi Everyone,
A nice variation on this hand is to swap the AD and 4D and have West duck the first diamond. Just as likely and now the second diamond allows the defense to finish with two hearts, two diamonds and a club. South did not support hearts so it is not outrageous to believe he started life with (at best) Qx in hearts and lead the KH followed by a heart to East taking advantage of North’s very poor spot cards. East can then cash out.
I think West should find that line in this fantasy variation. I think with three hearts, South would have ventured 2H just to see how serious North was about his hearts. But if not, he can lead back the 7C to partner’s (obvious) AC and East can cash the diamond and (hopefully) lead back a heart on the theory that West led his lowest club and thus wants back the lower of hearts and spades. Better to me though to just lead the KH. And, as Bobby would say, great is the fall thereon.
Cheers,
Jeff
Hi Jeff,
Interesting thoughts. Funny how many of these hands (when overbidding is rewarded by good play, lucky lie of the cards and maybe a defensive slip) get written up but there are huge numbers where 2 or 3 off results in a fair size swing or a bottom. I might have passed 2D today as North but what do I know? I’d probably risk 3C (I always did like bidding) but maybe the lesson here is that 3N is the contract most likely to be let through when it shouldn’t make.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
I often feel afflicted by Jim’s TOCM as the good play rewarded in columns so often goes wrong for me irl. Here, I would be zero-percent shocked to see West produce the AD, follow up with the KH and take down my contract.
It is hard to fault North’s 3C bid as he had the discipline to pass on his first bid so he is not really overselling his hand, I don’t think I could have passed 2D. I’d expect partner to pass, correct to 3H or bid 3NT. I am sympathetic to East too, AC is undoubtedly right, but it sure feels wrong in the moment.
Cheers,
Jeff
Jeff –
That is the way. 🙁