Back to Basics
|
| ♠ |
A Q |
| ♥ |
A 10 8 4 |
| ♦ |
Q 8 3 2 |
| ♣ |
J 4 2 |
|
|
| ♠ |
10 9 7 3 |
| ♥ |
Q 9 7 6 |
| ♦ |
5 |
| ♣ |
A Q 6 5 |
|
|
| ♠ |
J 8 6 5 4 2 |
| ♥ |
K 5 3 2 |
| ♦ |
J 10 |
| ♣ |
10 |
|
|
| ♠ |
K |
| ♥ |
J |
| ♦ |
A K 9 7 6 4 |
| ♣ |
K 9 8 7 3 |
|
|
North/South can make 3 NT from either side, but the
two minor suit games are more interesting.
Diamonds
We'll start with the easiest denomination first.
Obviously, a club lead by East will set 5 ♦
declared by North, leading to an immediate ruff. If declared by
South, West can give his partner a ruff, but at the expense of the
second natural club trick.
Clubs
The risk to declaring 5 ♣ is that the defense will
force declarer to ruff two hearts, setting up a third trump trick for
the defense.
But if East is on lead, that threat doesn't materialize. Suppose East
leads a low heart. West is forced to contribute the queen, and declarer
wins the ace and immediately attacks clubs. West wins, and continues
hearts, but declarer can play the ♥ 8 from dummy, and
East's king is forced. When West gets in with the second club, the
♥ 10 is high in North's hand.
If declared by South, however, West can profitably lead hearts.
South must fly the ♥ A, with East and West allowed to
keep the ♥ K-Q. Each time declarer loses a trump to
West, West can lead a heart, setting up West's own long club trick.