Wednesday at the Hutt - from Vil Gravis
This hand produced some erratic play and erratic results. Worth taking a look at the full range of results because you should be able to learn something.
Board 2 Dealer E NS Vul
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T52
AQ642
7
AKQ4After two passes, what should West open? If you're playing Acol, as most of you are, then the answer is obvious: 1NT. Many pairs these days also play '5 card spade' openings, so West has even more reason not to open 1S. There can be only one justification for opening 1S and that is, with a partner having passed, there is less danger than in opening 1NT. And also West is able to mention the spade suit: whatever partner bids can come to no harm because West will then pass, which is perfectly allowable when partner is a 'passed hand'. If West does open 1NT, North has enough to DOUBLE, and that may not turn out too well for NS if this is passed out. But that did not happen so we can forget that.
Let's take a look at the actual results. Two Norths played in 2H. That must have happened after West opened 1NT, because if West had opened 1S and North overcalled 2H, East would surely have raised to 2S. What did the Easts lead against North's 2H? One led the ACE of spades and one led the THREE of spades. Both are pretty terrible opening leads and I will tell you why. Leading an 'unsupported' ace is never recommended because you will allow the KING to make a trick that it shouldn't IF declarer has it. For the same reason, UNDERLEADING an ace is just as bad, so both opening leaders still have a lot to learn. But both were lucky because partner had the KQJ in the suit. But nevertheless, one of the defending pairs continued just as badly, because after East had started with the three of spades and West won the jack, they then allowed declarer to ruff a spade in dummy on the third round. West, after winning the first spade, should switch to the jack of hearts and this would effectively prevent a spade ruff in dummy, whatever declarer does (AND give the defence two trumps tricks, more than likely).
Now let me turn my attention to two pairs who played in THREE Spades. How on earth they got to that level, and why, I have no idea, but coincidentally, BOTH Norths led the SEVEN OF DIAMONDS! This is unbelievable because if you haven't heard the saying before, let me repeat it now: “God did not deal you ace and king in one suit for you to lead any other suit”. THESE Norths not only had the ace and KING of clubs, they had the queen as well, so why let possible club tricks run away by leading some other suit. If there WAS a diamond ruff available (the ONLY reason you would lead a singleton) that would still have been available after taking one or more club tricks.
Finally, I want to look at the declarer play if you are in a spade contract. It's the same old story: FINESSE when necessary, and finesse correctly. In the heart suit, declarer should start by leading the jack and letting it run if not covered. If covered with the queen, win the king and then go for the diamonds. Again, finesse, and since there are two missing honour cards, why not try running the ten and then, later finesse by leading to the queen. As it happens, South has both the king and jack and should cover the ten, if he doesn't then declarer will make three diamond tricks. When declarer wins the first diamond, declarer reverts to the heart suit, and tries the ten next, once more leading through North. The effect of that is fortuitous, because when North covers the ten of hearts, South's seven falls and dummy's eight is now a trick. Declarer does not even need to keep track because the eight has to be played sooner or later anyway.
Fun, huh? Just because you know how to finesse and how to get lucky! Same old story: lead THROUGH any high cards you are trying to pick up from defenders, as well as TOWARD any high cards you're hoping to make tricks with.
