Vil's TakeAways ...

Here are my takes on the problems posed in the article before last:

Board 20 from 27/02/2019
Dealer W All Vul

	AJ74 KT98 AK54 2
KQT932 A6 72 A64		85 543 QJT3 T985
	6 QJ72 986 KQJ73

Q1: When West opens 1S what would you do as North?
North has the points (15-18) as well as the spade stops for a 1NT overcall but the shape is not right with the singleton club. Double at least tells partner that you have four hearts.

Q2: If North doubles 1S, what would you, as South, bid?
South has great support given that North has at least four hearts. The singleton spade and great club suit make the hand worth a ‘raise’ to 3H and North now has an easy raise to game.

Q3: If South ends up in 4H what would you lead if you were West?
The KING of spades is clear cut. I noted that one West led the NINE (fourth highest) and paid the price when declarer used the ‘rule of 11’ and with little to lose, put up the jack from dummy.

Q4: Should West ever be declarer in 2S? How and why would that happen?
That should never happen unless North doubles and South bids 2C in response, when West might now bid 2S. Poor bidding by NS

Q5: If West is declarer in 2S, what should North lead? And after North makes the opening lead, what should North then continue with?
North has an obvious lead, the ace or king of diamonds.But North must not continue diamonds since that will set up a diamond trick in dummy. North should switch to the singleton club. West will win the ace and try another diamond and now North will just have to try a heart and hope. Good defence will then see West down two for +200 to NS, a reasonable result, bettered only by those who bid and make
4H.

See the analysis on this board by clicking here.