Tuesday Morning 9:00 AM Pairs
Board 4
W deals
All vul
Bidding Commentary:
After West opens 1♣, North has a decision. North might bid 2NT as Unusual For the Two Lowest Unbid Suits. North does have at least five hearts and at least five diamonds so this bid is a possibility but North should prefer to emphasize the six-card heart suit since North has sufficient strength to bid twice. An unusual 2NT is typically a one-bid description of the entire hand (or a game forcing hand). If North held six diamonds and five hearts, the 2NT bid would be more appealing. After 1♥, East also faces a decision. East could bid 1NT or make a negative double. I prefer the 1NT bid because that is bidding where East lives. The important feature of the East hand is likely the double heart stopper and not the four spades. North, who had already planned to bid twice, will compete in diamonds. West may bid 2♠, but may not since partner didn’t make the negative double over 1♥.
Play Commentary: Declarer will ruff one heart in dummy and then try and ruff a second heart in dummy. West will overruff and that will be the end of the hand. The defense will score four trump tricks or three trump tricks and a heart. +110 NS will be a common score. If East leads the ♦9 to prevent declarer from trumping hearts in the dummy, West may put up the ♦Q at trick one. Declarer can then wrangle 10 tricks and a near top by getting two diamond ruffs in dummy.