The Bridge Corner
By Gary Mitchell

Opening Lead: Heart Queen

The bidding explained: South promised a six-card suit and 6-10 points. North has a great hand, but opposite a weak two bid he opted for caution. Good thing! 

Should South open two Spades with a five-card suit? It is not recommended, but when it works, great.

The play: The defenders take the first two Hearts and lead a third Heart, forcing you to trump in dummy. You now lead the spade Queen, and it wins. You lead a second spade and West wins the Ace. You are praying for another Heart lead, so you can trump in your hand and pull the last trump. However, West has other ideas. West now leads a Diamond, locking you in dummy. You cannot get to your hand to pull the last trump. On the third Diamond, West wins her little trump. Down one. Could you have made it? Sure. 

Before playing the second Spade, play two rounds of Clubs and two rounds of Diamonds. When they survive, play the second Spade. They can no longer lock you on the board. Did all of this have to happen? Not if South passed in the first place. The bidding would have been: 

North South

Pass

2 Clubs 2 Diamonds (waiting bid)

2NT 3Hearts (transfer, promising 5 or more Spades)

3 Spades 3NT (Partner, I have only 5 Spades)

4 Spades

If the hand is played by North, the opponents cannot attack Hearts so the play is easy.

Questions: email me at gary@smabridge.com.  Lessons: Call 152-6351