Watch the cards to place the cards

Yogi Berra said, “You can observe a lot just by watching.” In bridge, you can learn a lot by watching the cards, but only if you then draw the appropriate conclusions.

In this deal, what happens after West leads his fourth-highest heart against two no-trump?

Over one spade, West might have doubled or overcalled one no-trump. Two hearts had the advantage of getting the five-card major into the game, but was dangerous on such a poor suit.

South’s two no-trump promised a balanced hand with 18 or 19 points. It is more common as a oneno-trump balance — this call was risky.

The first trick went heart three, six, eight, king. South played a spade to dummy’s 10 and East’s king. A club shift would have worked well, but East understandably returned the heart jack.

South cashed his top diamonds, dropping West’s queen, and took the diamond jack. Then, though, when declarer led another spade, West won the trick, cashed the club king (to make things clear to partner) and continued with a low heart because he knew East held the 10. East won with that card, cashed the diamond 10 and returned a club. South took only two hearts and three diamonds to go down three, minus 300.

This was a bottom in a duplicate. Several Wests doubled over one spade. Then, when East advanced with two diamonds, and South passed, West rebid two hearts. Now East should have passed, but a few raised to three hearts. West should have known enough was enough, but they all bid four hearts.