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The auctions:
The hand was played 7 times in a club game. There were 3 different auctions ending in 3NT by west.
---1. 1D 2D 3NT (twice)
---2. 1D (2H) 3D 3NT
---3. 1D 2D
---3. 2H 3C
---3. 3NT
West would like to open 1NT with the lovely 16 pointer, but that singleton club, well let’s just play by the rules.
In auctions like this, where there won’t be a major suit fit, you should try to play in NT so all forward going bids are geared towards that.
Auction 1: East’s inverted (2D) raise shows about 10-11 dummy points, 4+ diamonds (5 if clubs) and no 4 card or longer major. West’s 3NT promises stoppers in both majors and something more than a minimum in order to go to directly to game. West does not concern herself with clubs as east is likely to have something there. If you don’t play inverted minors a 3D limit raise gets you to the same place. See the article by Lynn Berg in September 2022 Bridge Bulletin for more about inverted minors and why you should play them.
Auction 2: Some north’s will come in with a heart bid but, imho, it’s way too risky at this (unfavorable) vulnerability. But if he does, east can make a 3H limit raise once again getting 3NT from west. If east merely bids 3D, west might pass.
Auction 3: West’s 2H bid promises hearts suitable for NT. West does not necessarily have 4 hearts. The heart bid also tends to deny a spade stopper. (Discuss with partner). In this case east showed his club suit and west had an easy 3NT bid.
The opening lead:
This hand is all about the opening lead. In each case north led his 4th best heart. Even if the hearts can be established there is no side entry. Why not try to find partner’s suit?
North knows that east has no more than 3 spades and west no more than 4. That leaves partner with at least 4. If spades is the best lead you do have a second one to play when you win the heart ace.
An alternative lead would be a club. In the first two auctions, since west promised something in the majors, a club lead towards west’s shortness and/or weakness might work, but you really don’t know how many clubs east and south hold. If east has 5 and west 2, there’s only 3 left for your partner.
I prefer the major in this case. You know partner has at least four spades and you have a second one to lead when you get in with the heart ace.
Also, in the 3rd auction where east bid clubs and west didn’t admit to a spade stopper right away, the 9 of spades is a standout lead.
The play:
West can count 2 spades, 1 club and the heart just taken. Another heart, 3 diamonds and 2 clubs can be promoted. In order to get the red suit tricks she’ll have to lose to the aces. In clubs she can drive out the king to get two tricks in addition to the ace.
Declarer notes that the only dummy entries are in diamonds. She also recognizes that if the club ten holds she’ll need both entries to set up and then cash a third club.
She also realizes that timing could be an issue, she may not be able to take all 10 possible tricks before the defenders set up hearts. Except in auction 2, she has no idea how they’re breaking.
Declarer should start clubs first because the 10 will likely hold then she can start building diamond tricks and entries. She leads a diamond. When south takes the ace he switches to spades. Meanwhile, the first time declarer gets to dummy she should lead the club Q or J to establish the other. South wins the king and returns a spade.
If this is the 1st spade, lead a diamond to establish a 4th round entry to dummy and the good clubs.
If it’s the 2nd spade (south already won the diamond ace), you’re good to go.
At trick 12 west finds herself in dummy with a club and a heart and KQ of hearts in hand. A heart endplays north for a well deserved overtrick.
WDP!
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