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Hand played on |
27th March 2008 |
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Board number 13 |
Red Section |
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Dealer |
North |
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Vulnerability |
Both |
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Submitted by |
Alaric Cundy |
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North ♠T93 ♥94 ♦A954 ♣AK96 |
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West ♠AQ6 ♥KJ5 ♦62 ♣QJ753 |
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East ♠J842 ♥AQ72 ♦JT8 ♣T8 |
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North |
Bidding:
East |
South |
West |
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South ♠K75 ♥T863 ♦KQ73 ♣42 |
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No End |
No
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No
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1NT
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I always argue that hands that are passed out in 1NT can often be the most interesting. Typically, the high card points will be divided roughly 20 / 20 between the two pairs, and the hand often turns into a battle as to which pair can find a 7th trick first.
The 'normal' choice of suit to lead against a No Trump contract is the longest suit, unless there is some indication to the contrary. With a choice of suits to lead, it is usual to pick a major rather than a minor in the absence of any clues from the bidding - the argument being that if Declarer / Dummy held major suits then they may have made some attempt to find them, e.g., via Stayman or a transfer bid. So then we come to two suits of equal length and equal rank, as in this example... It is often better in fact to lead the WEAKER of the two suits - the argument being that you can use your 'good cards' that you will make anyway to gain the lead to establish and then enjoy 'length' tricks in your weak suit.
Whether it was for that reason or otherwise, at our table North chose to lead a diamond, and now the Defenders came to their six obvious tricks, but no more. One No Trump making 'on the nail'.
Events took a different course at other tables... Two Declarers made overtricks, I suspect after an initial club lead. If North starts with a top club then he / she has to be very alert thereafter to get maximum reward from the hand. It would be particularly painful for the Defenders to continue with a second top club followed by anything other than a diamond switch, as Declarer will now make 8 tricks, at least, plus a ninth if he / she is courageous enough to try the spade finesse... One pair took 1NT one off. I suspect that this pair started with four diamonds, ending in the North hand. North may now exit with a heart, run round to Declarer's King. If Declarer now plays a club to the ten, ducked by North, then North will have set up the potential for a third, and setting, club trick. That defence deserves the outright top that it got for North / South.
One East / West pair got a poor score by playing the hand in 2C. Depending on their bidding style, East ought to open 1NT (if playing the 12-14 or 13-15 variety) else re-bid 1NT if playing a strong No Trump opener. One North / South scored well by playing in 2D for 8 tricks - though both the contract and the result look to be optimistic.
There's no such thing as a 'boring 1NT hand'!