BRIDGE

West was delighted: here the opponents had bid their way to three notrump and he had a solid three-card sequence topped by an honour, in an unbid suit no less, to lead! What a surprise he had in store for the table!

For sure, North had been awkwardly placed in the auction: lots of points but no clear direction to take without support for his partner's overcalled suit and only one sure heart stopper.

His responsive cuebid brought the welcome news of a heart stopper opposite to lead to the placing of the contract in the nine-trick game. Fringe benefit: the bidding put this particular West on lead with his “surprise” in the diamond suit.

Dummy's King went to the ace but East was semistymied for what to do next.

Not realizing the heart layout (it was already too late for a heart shift to do any good as West's lead had in fact given away nothing except the contract!), East made a desperate shift to a low club.

Based on the opening bid, South had no problem letting that slide to dummy's Jack and after forcing out the spade ace, declarer could eventually claim the balance.

Heart lead? A different result as South would simply have too much to do before East could set up his long suit (there was an obscure endplay available – not found by the other team's declarer who tried to drop the club Queen in two rounds).

Leading partner's bid-suit does two things: makes partner happy you noticed and remembered what he bid and also ensures you won't lose any post-match discussion.

By the way: East was definitely not delighted!

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