BRIDgE

Had West been less of a creative “genius” on opening lead, North-South might have conducted a post-deal analysis of how they might have bid to reach the laydown heart game instead of the failed three notrump.

As it went, East’s natural (five-plus clubs) but limited (11-15 high-card points) opening bid drew a pass from South and a balancing call of two spades from North.

And with an opening bid, no spade fit and all other suits stopped, South took the immediate and very reason- able route to three notrump to put the focus on West.

In the joint interests of maintaining partnership harmony and taking what might well be his side’s best shot at setting the contract, we all might have expected West to lead a mundane club to give South no chance to get more than seven tricks before the defenders could get at least six.

But for reasons known best to himself and, perhaps, his bridge psychiatrist, West embarked on the “road less travelled” by making a “surprise” lead of the unbid major! Surprise! It didn’t work! Declarer won the heart eight and set about establishing spades, eventually using the heart suit West had attacked as a means of accessing dummy: four tricks in each major, two clubs and one diamond.

That haul of 11 tricks for South was a huge advance on the seven he might have had to make do with had there been a different breed of leader on his left!

As for East, he decided that the next time he wanted this partner to lead a club, he’d try the effect of bidding hearts!