|
Nothing is clear cut.
After a routine 1D-P-1S start to the auction, south would like to bid with 14 HCPs, but what? A takeout double with a flat hand and only three cards in the unbid major? Yuk! Not enough HCPs for no trump. And look at the vulnerability, it makes bidding even more dangerous.
Let’s say south passes. What are west’s options? 1NT with that singleton is not attractive. 2D maybe if the hand looked more like; 765 KT72 AKJ98 3. A 2H reverse? No way.
That leaves 2S. There’s nothing wrong with supporting with 3 at this point in the auction. This hand will play OK in a 4-3 (Moysian*) fit. The trumps are good, clubs can be ruffed and there are controls in the other suits.
*Named for Alfonse Moyse, Jr. who was a big proponent of opening 4 card majors and supporting with 3 pieces, hence his partnerships played a lot of 4-3 fits.
After north passes, east has enough to invite game. He knows there is an 8 or 9 card spade fit and a secondary fit in diamonds. A simple 3S bid will probably be rejected as west has no way to evaluate his side suit holdings, especially the singleton. A ‘help’ suit game try is better. East is most concerned about clubs and can bid 3C, indicating 3+ clubs usually with at risk honor(s).
With the singleton club, west readily accepts and bids 4S.
South should lead the ace (or king) of clubs and after a negative signal from partner has to consider what to play at trick 2. Leading away from an honor in any of the other suits doesn’t look inviting and with the opponents in game and you having 14 HCPs, there’s not much left for partner.
A club continuation looks least bad. This will establish east’s queen but the pitch of a heart or diamond might not be helpful.
Declarer trumps the second high club and counts his losers. It looks like there will be 2 spade losers and a diamond or two to go along with the club already lost. What can he do?
If a third heart trick can be arranged on which to pitch a diamond then only a simple diamond finesse will be needed to make the contract. Declarer could try to guess where the queen of hearts is or play ace, king and ruff the third round hoping for a drop. There is also a chance to bring the diamonds without a loser if hearts don’t work out. See ‘EXTRA’ below.
I would play for the drop. If an opponent ruffs or overruffs it may cost them a natural trump trick. The queen falls, reaching this position:
K5
9
T7
JT9
AJ------------------------T843
T---------------------------
A9864--------------------QJ5
---------------------------.Q
Q97
-
K32
82
A spade to the ace and then the good heart throwing a diamond. No matter what south does he cannot get out safely, if he ruffs. A spade exit endplays north, a diamond exit and declarer takes the finesse which he needs to take eventually anyway or a club to the queen.
When east does get in, he should play a spade leaving just the master trump at large and eventually take the diamond finesse and claim conceding one to the master trump.
There are other lines of play which will also work. Playing trumps before hearts works since north has no good return after winning the king. The friendly lie of diamonds and hearts makes this game almost impossible to beat.
So many choices.
EXTRA:
As the diamonds lie, they can always be brought in without a loser. Lead the queen, if south covers overtake the king and finesse the ten back towards hand. If south doesn’t cover, lead the jack, squashing north’s ten and finessing the king again. If south started with just Kx and ducked the first diamond, nice play, west will probably get it wrong.
| 
