Jeff Lehman

A cold 3NT

Yesterday’s club duplicate began with a cold 3NT contract.  Alas, it was the opponents who were cold for 3NT, but it was our side who played that contract!

The opening paragraph makes a giveaway of the bidding question that follows, but … what would you call at unfavorable vulnerability with J9763, AK63, K4, Q3 when you hear an auction of 1 by LHO dealer, 3 WJO by partner, and break-in-tempo 3 by RHO? 

Envisaging AK-seventh of clubs opposite, in second chair and vul against not, and a heart lead summing to nine tricks, I offered 3NT, ending the bidding.  A heart was led.

Well, I do not blame partner for his bid, but he hardly had what I was expecting:

W
West
J9763
AK63
K4
Q3
4
E
East
85
5
J2
KJ987542

 

I topped RHO’s Q and advanced the Q.  LHO won the A – that is maybe one element of good fortune – and then returned a heart – that certainly is another.  +600.

This was the whole hand.

 
25
E-W
North
N
North
K42
J10742
AQ109
A
 
W
West
J9763
AK63
K4
Q3
4
E
East
85
5
J2
KJ987542
 
S
South
AQ10
Q98
87653
106
 

The opponents are entitled to five diamonds, three spades, and the A for nine tricks in a notrump contract… whether on offense or defense.

Now, that’s the way to begin a session!


1 Comment

David Memphis MOJO SmithSeptember 13th, 2013 at 5:12 pm

Cute hand, I hope it helped you win.

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