Back to Basics

North/South can make 3 NT from either side, but the two minor suit games are more interesting.

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.

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.