Wrong-siding

Players talk of right-siding and perhaps allow it to influence their decisions a trifle too much. However, it is an important consideration; in a competitive auction there is a obvious danger that your holding the enemy suit will be exposed to the opening lead – if you can survive that hurdle, maybe you can find enough tricks or discard your losers.

Against silent opponents much of this is still true, holdings like KJx lend themselves to protection – after all, you'd much rather play last from that holding than second. But that doesn't mean you should either hasten to bid no-trumps or be overly concerned with less suitable holdings. After all, if you hold Qxx opposite xxx you'd surely rather hold three small as declarer; if opener leads from AJxxx then you're doomed in 3NT, if you hold the weaker holding then all you have to do is calmly play low to disrupt the defence. Something like AQ10x though – surely it must be better to have the lead come up to that no matter what? Well, yes, of course, but that's not how things worked out on this recent deal from a knock-out match:

  • J5
  • Q972
  • A1065
  • A76
  • K863
  • 1083
  • QJ87
  • 94
N
W
E
S
  • 972
  • 65
  • K942
  • J1052
  • AQ104
  • AKJ4
  • 3
  • KQ83

I opened the South cards 1♣ and the auction proceeded smartly; 1♥; 4♦ – 4NT; 5♣ – 6♥. Four diamonds showed support and a shortage, five clubs showed two aces and the trump king. Partner won the trump lead, drew a second round and when they divided, a third, ending in hand. He ran the ♠J and when that lost, he claimed; three spades, four hearts, a ruff, a diamond and three clubs – twelve in all.

At the other table South's system made a heart opening possible (if not actually a good idea). That got an immediate raise to three, so off to the races (though South didn't know about the queen of trumps) and the same contract was reached. This time a spade was led. Yes, from West, into ♠AQ104. Declarer saw no problem and played low, winning the ten. He had no immediate losers but he didn't have twelve tricks.

He didn't let that put him off and proceeded sharply; heart ace, spade ace, spade ruff, trump queen. And now it wouldn't be safe to ruff the last spade, so he drew the third round. With the South hand unseen, East did the right thing by letting go a diamond and suddenly there was no recourse. Declarer had to lose a black card to each defender – one down. So there's a strict moral here; again, count your tricks and second, don't let the perceived favour of the lead distract you.

Published Saturday 1.Oct.2005