Mark Horton
Misplaced Confidence
During the qualifying rounds of the North American Swiss Teams, I have the following promising collection (West deals, both sides are vulnerable):
♠ K 4
♥ A 7 4 2
♦ K 10 6
♣ A K 6 4
West’s opening bid of 1♦ is followed by two passes. I am too strong for a protective 1NT, so I double. When partner responds 1♠, I bid 1NT, which we play as wide range. Partner continues with 2♣, asking me about my strength and my spade holding. When I bid 2NT, promising a good hand but denying three spades, partner’s 3NT concludes the bidding.
| West | North | East | South |
| 1♦ | Pass | Pass | Dbl |
| Pass | 1♠ | Pass | 1NT |
| Pass | 2♣ | Pass | 2NT |
| Pass | 3NT | All Pass |
West leads the ♦5,and dummy proves to be modest:
♠ Q J 9 8 6
♥ Q 5 3
♦ Q 8 4
♣ 9 8
♠ K 4
♥ A 7 4 2
♦ K 10 6
♣ A K 6 4
If I’m to have any chance, the spades will have to behave well. When East plays the ♦7, I win with the 10 and play the ♠K, West following with the 7 and East the 2. West (knowing his partner has three spades) takes the next spade and switches to the ♣Q. I win that and play a heart, putting up the queen when West follows with the 10, but East produces the king and returns the ♦3. I play low, but West wins with the ace and returns a diamond, locking
me in hand. When the clubs break, I salvage a trick, but I am still two down. The full deal:
| Dlr: West | ♠ Q J 9 8 6 | |
| Vul: Both | ♥ Q 5 3 | |
| ♦ Q 8 4 | ||
| ♣ 9 8 | ||
| ♠ A 10 7 | ♠ 5 3 2 | |
| ♥ 10 6 | ♥ K J 9 8 | |
| ♦ A J 9 5 2 | ♦ 7 3 | |
| ♣ Q J 10 | ♣ 7 5 3 2 | |
| ♠ K 4 | ||
| ♥ A 7 4 2 | ||
| ♦ K 10 6 | ||
| ♣ A K 6 4 |
Post Mortem
In these days of ever lighter opening bids, no reliance could be placed on West holding the king of hearts. However, I missed a simple point at trick one. I should win the opening lead with the ♦K. I now play on spades, West winning the second round. If West finds a switch to the♥10, I must take one more precaution, ducking a round of hearts before leading towards the ♦Q.
Had West led a club or the ♥10, I would have had little chance — perhaps there is something to the theory of responding with a modest hand?