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EUREKA!!

Let me now relate a very special “Eureka” moment, one that revolutionised my way of thinking about what’s right and what isn’t when it comes to opening leads and defence. I was West in this very mundane deal in a match point session.

Dealer S All Vul

	K9437 654 AKJ 97
JT8 AQ3 93 AQT42		765 KT92 754 653
	AQ2 J8 QT862 KJ8

South opened 1NT. I passed. North bid 2C (Stayman) and South answered the question with 2D. North now bid 2NT and everyone passed.

“It’s better to underbid and overplay than to overbid and overplay” has been a favourite adage of mine, but in fact it is best to bid accurately and play accurately, especially when it comes to slams. This board, from X-Clubs on Thursday 10/7/25 gave contestants every chance to bid, and make, an excellent 6H slam, but few did. I’m pleased to say that at our club, the only pair that bid 6H also made 6H, whereas those who conservatively underbid to 4H failed to make more than eleven tricks. I understand why they did if they were only in game, but there should be no excuse for failing to make the slam if you have bid well to get to it, which should not be difficult once North opens the bidding and South locates the heart fit.

Board 20. Dealer W All Vul

	QJ75 K9652 A43 K
K32 J3 KQ72 J865		T9864 T84 JT5 73
	A AQ7 986 AQT942

Rules. What rules? This deal comes from play at X-Clubs on Tuesday 1/7/25

Board 2. Dealer E NS Vul

	98 93 KT987532 3
5 AK65 QJ64 K864		KJT6 J742 A QJT5
	AQ7432 QT8 A972

Good defence requires good players and a good communication system.

This second board at X-Clubs is even more basic than the first, yet few Wests, as declarers in 4S, managed to arrive at eleven tricks. This should have been a near universal 4S contract for EW, and competent declarer play should have resulted in eleven tricks. But no, even when North made the very favourable opening lead of the diamond seven.

Board 5 from Tuesday 3/06/2025
Dealer N NS Vul

	92 T76532 72 T75
AQ643 9 AQ543 K4		K85 KQ 86 QJ9632
	JT7 AJ84 KJT9 A8