Emerging with 3NT

Dealer: North
Both sides vulnerable

North

A 8 3

5 2

K Q 4

A Q 9 8 5

West

9 6 5 4

J 10 9 8 4

7 6 2

East

Q J 10

K 7 6 3

A 10 9 8

K 3

South

K 7 2

A Q

J 7 6 5 2

J 10 4

North	East	South	West
1�	Dbl	Redbl	1�
Pass	Pass	1 NT	Pass
3 NT	All Pass

Opening Lead:� J

There are emergencies, and then there are situations that reflect a lack of planning. People can get the two confused.At 3NT, South won the first heart with the ace and led a diamond to dummy’s king. East won and returned a heart, and declarer took his queen and led a second diamond. With a 3-2 break, he would have had nine easy tricks: four diamonds, two hearts, two spades and a club.

But when West discarded, South had an emergency on his hands. He took the queen, led a spade to his hand and returned the jack of clubs to finesse, but when East had the king, the defense emerged with three hearts, a diamond and a club for down one.

YOUR PLAY?
How would you play 3NT?South had a virtual sure thing. He leads a spade to the ace at Trick Two and returns the four of diamonds through East, whose double promised high-card values. If East takes the ace, South has nine tricks. If instead East plays low, South wins with the jack and switches to clubs to assure the contract.DAILY QUESTION�

You hold:
K 7 2
A Q
J 7 6 5 2
J 10 4
. Your partner opens one club, and the next player overcalls one heart. What do you say?

ANSWER�
The bidding has improved your 11-point hand. The positional value of your A-Q of hearts has gone up, and your other high cards may be supported by partner’s honors. You would insist on game with A 7 2, A K, J 7 6 5 2, J 10 4, and your actual hand is about as good. Bid at least 2NT. If vulnerable, to try 3NT would be reasonable.�