No finesse some people!
It's a pretty poor state of affairs when every pair in the room fails to make their contract, whatever it happens to be. Once more we can see the importance of a TRUMP FIT, and the folly of playing in No Trumps when there is a void in one hand.
Board 7 Wednesday 12th April
Dealer S All Vul
| ||||||||||
|
| |||||||||
|
JT85
98763
AT63
I can see that the NS bidding could be hampered when West interferes in clubs, but if West does make any bid that suggests a decent hand, if South ends up in 4S the contract should make. Why? Because West's singleton king of hearts should not make. All of our newcomers have, I hope, learnt how to finesse. Lead a heart from dummy and play the queen from hand. That will take a trick every time East has the king. But will that help at all? Declarer has a certain heart loser anyway, even if the finesse wins, so the better play is to cash the ace first and THEN lead towards the queen. If East shows absolutely no interest, play low and hope the king is doubleton with West. But, having played the ace first in this particular deal, that is no longer necessary and declarer can then take two top trumps and play on diamonds, in the end losing just two tricks: one to the queen of trumps and one to a diamond.
Let's get back to the bidding. Most Wednesday players will open the South hand ONE SPADE if playing a totally natural system. Most Wests will overcall 2C and North would support spades. Five HCP and a void in an opponent's suit, with four card trumps support, is more than enough for a simple raise. South should then bid game in spades. If any reader can send me the auction at their table, I would be interested to know how four Souths ended up playing in No Trumps, and perhaps in the next issue I will point out how that could have been avoided.
In one way I am pleased to see that declarers failed in 4S because that means they had learnt how to finesse. But learning when NOT to finesse is the next step along the way. Keep that in mind.
