I’m not sure why Barry calls out the spade lead as also winning here. I don’t see how South makes his contact on any lead as long East is careful to block dummy from taking a diamond trick after clubs are established. I don’t see how the opps are ever forced to lead a diamond before the contract has failed (or when four trick are taken and AD is the fifth).
Can someone please enlighten me?
Cheers,
Jeff
Iain ClimieMarch 30th, 2026 at 9:07 am
HI Jeff,
Your analysis is fine but Barry makes that point. Suppose South takes T2, ducking T1 and plays 3 rounds of clubs. East wins and plays another spade which South wins and plays DK. As you both note, East just has to hold off. South then tries a D to the 10, his last legitimate chance, and goes off.
The hand is a lesson that 24 points opposite 2 is far less likely to make 3NT than 13 (even 12) opposite 12. By the way, what time zone are you in (I’m in the UK) as you get hold of thee column even before I do.
Regards,
Iain
Jeff SerandosMarch 30th, 2026 at 1:36 pm
Hi Iain,
My question was why single out a spade lead – it seems like the contact cannot be made on any lead, even if West incomprehensively led a club. But your point of 24 opposite two is interesting. It makes sense – transportation is going to be a serious issue. I was wondering this morning how little North would be allowed to pass 2NT with. Here, I think he has no choice given the useful diamonds even before you get to the live chance that his partner will be able to set up clubs and get to the board in diamonds – but at what point would he be able to pass? If the QD were the J? Or if it were the eight?
I am in British Columbia so Pacific time. I used to not see the columns until morning here when all the comments were pretty much made already. Then it suddenly started dropping around five in the afternoon here on the day before. I think it is dropping at midnight GMT now and that it used to drop at around midnight Pacific time (or thereabouts, sometime after I was asleep though).
Iain ClimieMarch 30th, 2026 at 3:20 pm
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for that. North might reasonably pass the hand today but then South has CAK96 and the clubs are 2-2 or 3-1 so bingo. All depends what South holds – if he has (say) CAQ alone, then North will surely wish he’d passed even if the C K is onside. Mind you, if South has taken a view with DAKJxxx and (say) a 21-22 count, you never hear the last of it.
Regards,
Iain
jim2March 30th, 2026 at 7:16 pm
Sorry, I cannot comment on this hand. I am still trying to recover from the March 26 one ….
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I’m not sure why Barry calls out the spade lead as also winning here. I don’t see how South makes his contact on any lead as long East is careful to block dummy from taking a diamond trick after clubs are established. I don’t see how the opps are ever forced to lead a diamond before the contract has failed (or when four trick are taken and AD is the fifth).
Can someone please enlighten me?
Cheers,
Jeff
HI Jeff,
Your analysis is fine but Barry makes that point. Suppose South takes T2, ducking T1 and plays 3 rounds of clubs. East wins and plays another spade which South wins and plays DK. As you both note, East just has to hold off. South then tries a D to the 10, his last legitimate chance, and goes off.
The hand is a lesson that 24 points opposite 2 is far less likely to make 3NT than 13 (even 12) opposite 12. By the way, what time zone are you in (I’m in the UK) as you get hold of thee column even before I do.
Regards,
Iain
Hi Iain,
My question was why single out a spade lead – it seems like the contact cannot be made on any lead, even if West incomprehensively led a club. But your point of 24 opposite two is interesting. It makes sense – transportation is going to be a serious issue. I was wondering this morning how little North would be allowed to pass 2NT with. Here, I think he has no choice given the useful diamonds even before you get to the live chance that his partner will be able to set up clubs and get to the board in diamonds – but at what point would he be able to pass? If the QD were the J? Or if it were the eight?
I am in British Columbia so Pacific time. I used to not see the columns until morning here when all the comments were pretty much made already. Then it suddenly started dropping around five in the afternoon here on the day before. I think it is dropping at midnight GMT now and that it used to drop at around midnight Pacific time (or thereabouts, sometime after I was asleep though).
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for that. North might reasonably pass the hand today but then South has CAK96 and the clubs are 2-2 or 3-1 so bingo. All depends what South holds – if he has (say) CAQ alone, then North will surely wish he’d passed even if the C K is onside. Mind you, if South has taken a view with DAKJxxx and (say) a 21-22 count, you never hear the last of it.
Regards,
Iain
Sorry, I cannot comment on this hand. I am still trying to recover from the March 26 one ….