NEWBRIDGE CANADIAN

Saturday, February 20, 2021

East won the diamond ace to continue with the king, presenting South with a problem. It was quite evident to South that West had led a singleton diamond. Should declarer ruff with a top trump or the ten of spades?

West was known to hold at least seven hearts but virtually nothing else.

Declarer elected to ruff with the king of spades and continued with a trump to the queen followed by another, on which East contributed the remaining spot-card. East had shown up with seven diamonds and two spades but West seven hearts, one diamond and one spade. Declarer judged to put up the ace of spades, dropping the jack, to score twelve tricks. Another consideration was that West might not have selected the singleton diamond as an opening shot when holding a singleton trump.

South's leap to the major suit game was not a pre-empt but promised a strong hand with a bushel of spades since one does not pre-empt over a preempt.

North declined any action because the king of hearts would be of dubious value when partner held heart shortness.

As a final comment, I would say that West's resolve to open three hearts at this vulnerability was definitely a risky action.

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