Senator Dianne Feinstein said, with justification, "Toughness doesn't have to come in a pinstriped suit."
This deal was shown to me by Peter Sutro from Nantucket. It occurred last March during a private game in North Palm Beach, Fla.
What do you think of the bidding? What would happen in six no-trump after West leads the heart 10, or diamond two, or club six?
Do not show South's bidding to children and the easily impressionable. First, South does not know the best strain. Second, he cannot guarantee sufficient combined strength for a slam. Third, he cannot be sure that he will not lose the first two heart tricks. South should start with a quiet one heart.
West led the heart 10. After declarer called for dummy's two, East had to play low to defeat the contract. But that was tough, and when he won with his king, declarer took 12 tricks: four spades, three hearts, one diamond and four clubs. It's lucky South didn't respond one heart!
An "impossible" diamond lead defeats the contract as long as East covers dummy's card.
After a club lead, declarer would win, play off dummy's heart ace, and continue with another heart. East would surely duck that, defeating the contract. But note that if South had the heart seven and East the heart six, South could make six no-trump on any lead but a diamond. After the heart ace and a heart to the queen, declarer must continue with the heart jack, pinning West's last heart and establishing his heart seven as a trick.
This deal was shown to me by Peter Sutro from Nantucket. It occurred last March during a private game in North Palm Beach, Fla.
What do you think of the bidding? What would happen in six no-trump after West leads the heart 10, or diamond two, or club six?
Do not show South's bidding to children and the easily impressionable. First, South does not know the best strain. Second, he cannot guarantee sufficient combined strength for a slam. Third, he cannot be sure that he will not lose the first two heart tricks. South should start with a quiet one heart.
West led the heart 10. After declarer called for dummy's two, East had to play low to defeat the contract. But that was tough, and when he won with his king, declarer took 12 tricks: four spades, three hearts, one diamond and four clubs. It's lucky South didn't respond one heart!
An "impossible" diamond lead defeats the contract as long as East covers dummy's card.
After a club lead, declarer would win, play off dummy's heart ace, and continue with another heart. East would surely duck that, defeating the contract. But note that if South had the heart seven and East the heart six, South could make six no-trump on any lead but a diamond. After the heart ace and a heart to the queen, declarer must continue with the heart jack, pinning West's last heart and establishing his heart seven as a trick.