A First Look
J 2
A K 9 7
A Q J 4
J 9 6
6 4
10 6 5 3
K 10 9 7 5
A Q
A 9 3
Q J 4 2
8 2
8 7 5 3
K Q 10 8 7 5
8
6 3
K 10 4 2
In this example of double asymmetry, North/South might consider game in
either spades or notrump.
Spades
If South declares the
4 ♠ contract, all is well -
the opponents will get their three black winners and no more.
If North declares
4 ♠, though, the club lead sets it,
because the defense gets two clubs, the trump ace, and a club ruff.
Notrump
South cannot make
3 NT on a heart lead
from West. Twist and turn as he might, he cannot avoid losing two
hearts, two clubs, and a spade before he can run his nine apparent
tricks.
On the other hand, if North declares in
3 NT, he cannot be set
by a heart or any other lead.
On a low heart lead, North wins West's
♥ 10 with the ace, and
leads the
♠ J. East has to duck this, to keep declarer
from running five spades when he gets in next. North continues with a
spade and East can safely win this trick, leading to this position:
East cannot attack hearts himself here, because that would give declarer
a third stopper. So he has to lead a club to West's queen.
West continues with a heart, ducked to East, and East again cannot lead
hearts, holding
♥ Q-4 and North holding
♥ K-7. West gets in one more time
to lead hearts, but North still has the
♥ K, and the defense
fails to collect its five tricks before declarer makes his nine.