A K Q 7 2
A Q 8 5 3 2
3
7

This deal comes from the Round of 8 in the 2009 Spingold. See if you can do better than the many-time National champion who held these South cards. He dealt at unfavorable vulnerability. What is the correct opening bid?

 
This hand is not really right for 2; even if we were a little stronger, it would be difficult to express the distribution by starting so high. Much better is to open on the one-level. The hand is certainly strong enough to start with 1 and bid spades twice later. So, you start with 1 and partner bids 1NT, semi-forcing. And you?

You could bid 2, which is a reverse. The player at the table chose to bid even more; he bid 3. (Such a bid is a little scary though, in case partner thinks it is a Splinter--something like 0=7=3=3). Partner bid 4 and this player rebid 4 to show at least 5 spades and at least 6 hearts. At this point, his partner used Blackwood and the final contract became 6:

J 9 4 K K 7 4 A 8 6 4 3 2

A K Q 7 2 A Q 8 5 3 2 3 7

The opening lead was the A, after which West switched to a low trump. Your plan?

Assuming spades aren't 5-0 (not really possible when West switches to one), all you need is a reasonable heart split. If they are 3-3, you will have no troubles. If they are 5-1, you will probably have insurmountable troubles.

What if they are 4-2?

This shouldn't be too hard (but it was). Win the J, unblock the K, come to hand with a high trump, and ruff a low heart with dummy's last trump. How would that work out?

Let's look at the full deal:    

Vul: N-S Dlr: South	J 9 4 K K 7 4 A 8 6 4 3 2
8 6 5 3 10 9 A 10 9 8 5 K 5		10 J 7 6 4 Q J 6 2 Q J 10 9
	A K Q 7 2 A Q 8 5 3 2 3 7

As you can see, there is no problem.

However, an expert declarer went down when he carelessly played low at trick 2.

Watch what happens. West led the A and shifted to trumps.

Declarer tried the 9, thinking it was a "free finesse." East played the 10 and declarer was doomed.

He won the spade trick and crossed to the K. Now what?

The 4-1 spade break spelled defeat. Declarer couldn't get back and forth to set up the hearts and draw trump--try it!

Note how much smoother the play goes if declarer correctly goes up with the J at trick two.