The bidding choices continue to vex

Paolo Giordano, an Italian novelist, wrote, “Choices are made in brief seconds and paid for in the time that remains.”

In yesterday’s deal, South had to choose which way to take the auction. Then, settling for the ninetrick game worked well. Today, South has a similar predicament. What should he do after the given start to the auction, two hearts being fourth-suit game-forcing?

After deciding, look at the full deal. How do three no-trump, four spades and five clubs get on?

I think South should choose three clubs to describe his long two-suiter. If North continues with three diamonds or three spades, then South can bid three no-trump to show his heart stopper.

At the table, North raised three clubs to five clubs, which was a tad precipitate with such good trumps.

Three no-trump goes down after a heart lead. South has eight top tricks, but with both diamond honors offside, he cannot get a ninth winner established before the defenders have set up and run hearts.

Four spades is defeated by a diamond lead. Declarer can eliminate his diamond loser on the heart king, but has to cross to the South hand in clubs, so walks into both a defensive club ruff and a trump promotion in diamonds.

Five clubs can be made with an overtrick by taking two ruffing spade finesses. But in game, the simplest line is to win the trump lead in the South hand, unblock the heart ace, cross to the diamond ace, discard the diamond jack on the heart king and crossruff.