BRIDGE with Bob Jones

A routine auction. North used Stayman to look for a possible 4-4 spade fit and settled on three no trump when no such fit was found. The opening heart lead went to the jack and queen. South had a textbook hold-up play available and he allowed the queen to win. South also ducked the heart return at trick two, but won the heart continuation at trick three.

Declarer needed two tricks from diamonds to make his contract. He led the king of diamonds from his hand, hoping that either the hearts were splitting 4-4, or that the player who won the ace of diamonds would have no hearts remaining. The latter was indeed the case when East won his ace of diamonds and had no hearts left. South’s textbook hold-up play had resulted in an overtrick!

Was this just good technique by South or could the defense have done better? West has no reason to be proud of his defense. What was he thinking, or not thinking, when he continued with a third round of hearts? Did he expect to grow an entry later? The defense already had the two heart tricks they were entitled to and a shift was clearly called for. West could be forgiven for not finding the magical spade shift, but he has to take the heat for not shifting.