BRIDGE with Bob Jones

Many players with 4-3-3-3 distribution including a fourcard major will not bother to use Stayman. Today’s deal is an example of why. Note that a four-spade contract would have no chance. Nine tricks in a no trump contract were far from certain, but at least there was a chance.

South played low from dummy on the opening heart lead and East played the eight, trying to maintain communication with his partner. South took some time after winning with his jack. Should the hearts be splitting 4-4, he would have time to duck a spade. Should they split 5-3, he might as well let them take their four heart tricks and hope a squeeze developed. South made the unusual play of firing back a low heart at trick two!

South was simply trying to find out how many heart losers he had, but his play caused West to think that South probably had a good heart suit and was trying to establish it. West rose with his king and shifted to a low club, running to East’s jack and declarer’s king. South continued with the ace, king, and another spade. East had no good discard on the third spade. He wanted West to go back to hearts, but a low diamond discard might fetch a second club. East discarded a low club to prevent this, but that caused West to shift to a diamond!

West was crestfallen when he saw the full deal, but East was all class. “Partner, I would have done exactly the same thing,” said East.