LEARNING CENTER

For the fifth consecutive month, we visit the 2023 U.S. Senior Team Trials. This was a rare event that I played in, and even rarer, I got off to a good opening lead. With both sides vulnerable, I held: 

K8532
 732
 107
 973

RHO opened 1 and LHO responded 1. Opener rebid 1NT, raised to 3NT. Not wanting to lead the opponent's suit, the choice was between hearts and clubs. Since they might have 8 combined clubs, but not 8 combined hearts (they'd look for that fit), I chose a high heart. The full deal was:

Vul:South Dlr: Both	J1096  A109  A5  KJ105
K8532  732  107  973		A7  QJ854  QJ42  82
	Q4  K6  K9863  AQ64

Declarer played dummy's 9 and captured partner's jack with the king. Which suit should he work on; diamonds or spades? Diamonds would need a 3-3 break (against the odds). A doubleton honor like Q10, QJ or J10 would also make working on diamonds successful. Working on spades would succeed as long as the defense couldn't set up 3 heart winners.

Accordingly, declarer played a low spade from hand at trick two. If this were to lose to RHO, the hearts would be protected and the contract would make easily. Not to waste one of my few good opening leads, I was having none of that. This was not the time for second-hand low. I hopped with the K to play another heart and set up partner's hearts while he still had a spade entry. Down one.

Astute readers will note that declarer could still have succeeded. At some point, he needs to run the clubs. What is East to keep? If he throws two diamonds, the diamonds run. If he throws a heart, the defense is a trick short. Declarer would have to read the position, but I'm glad he didn't play this way because then I wouldn't have used this as a Real Deal.

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