BRIDGE JACK STOCKEN

North could have bid either 2NT or3 ♣ but at teams scoring game is everything and with a decent five card suit there is no point messing around. Note that North had no fear about the singleton spade, just an occupational hazard.

West had a very tricky opening lead given that leading from four to the jack is not ideal, especially as West knows his partner has at most only three or four points. Perhaps I would have led the six of hearts as sometimes they say, “if in doubt, lead a heart against 3NT”. Also, North South haven’t used Stayman so are less likely to have a 4-card major.

West plumped for a standard two of diamonds lead against

3NT and declarer won in dummy with the nine of diamonds and immediately tried to establish clubs, ducking a club to West’s queen. West now switched to the six of hearts, jack from East and ducked by declarer.

East persisted with hearts and declarer took the third round with the ace. He then played a club to the ace in dummy and then played a losing club which West had to win with the king.

West exited with a low diamond which declarer won with the ace on dummy, swallowing his queen from hand. He then cashed the two long club winners, followed by the king of diamonds.

West was in trouble now and with just three cards left had to bare the king of spades to keep the jack of diamonds guarded. Having set up the squeeze, declarer did not finesse the king of spades but led a spade to his ace, felling West’s king, so making 3NT.

Declarer pointed out that he could have made life easier for himself by winning the first diamond in hand with the queen and later finessing West’s jack but the squeeze was more artistic.

At the other table, declarer was North and went two down as East led a heart. It just shows what a difference the opening lead can make.