This X-Clubs deal, from last Tuesday presented East with a problem in the bidding and then North in the opening lead. North’s decision on the opening lead should have been easier than East’s decision to bid a heart slam. Let’s see what happened.
Board 7 from Tuesday 9//24
Dlr South All Vul
West opened 1H, North passed, and East responded with 2D rather than launching off into some number of hearts or even the crude approach of Gerber. West now bid 3C, which most Acol players would do to show some extra values, equivalent to a ‘reverse’ and therefore game forcing opposite a two level response. East was now in no hurry and bid 3H. West, with no great interest in slam, raised to game. Maybe that should have been the end of it, but East persisted. I believe that East’s three small clubs should be the deciding factor not to look for a slam, but East rolled out Key Card with 4NT and West bid 5S to show two key cards plus the queen of hearts. OOPS! EW were now in slam whether they wanted it or not, and East had to bid 6H. As it happens, it wasn’t a terrible slam despite that club loser, with the extra chance that North had the ace of spades. West’s two diamonds, the much maligned “QUACKS” this time were great cards. It wasn’t to be, but North for some unknown reason decided to ignore all teachings and common sense and instead of the spade queen, led the singleton trump. The opening lead, especially against a marginal slam, can make or break it. When it is an obvious lead, please don’t try the tricky stuff. At least when the obvious lead fails, you have an excuse!
QJ983
9
952
JT32