Bridge: Feb. 13, 2023

It has been said (rather more than once) that there are no blind opening leads, only hearing-impaired opening leaders. The advent of “bidding boxes” that allow for silent bidding has somewhat invalidated the expression, but the sentiment remains sound: Analyze the bidding and let it direct your lead.

In today’s deal, North-South quested to the five level looking for a slam that wasn’t there. North’s raise to five spades asked South to go to slam if he had a control in clubs, the unbid suit. South couldn’t oblige.

MAKING FIVE

West swiftly led the ace of clubs. East won the next club with the king and, to South’s relief, shifted to a trump. South easily took the rest, making five.

North-South’s bidding should have been punished. Since the bidding indicated (really, it roared loudly) that they lacked a high club, West’s opening lead should have been the deuce of clubs. East takes the king, returns a club to the ace and ruffs a third club for down one.

This week: killing opening leads.

DAILY QUESTION

You hold: S Q H A J 4 D A K J 6 3 C Q 8 7 3. You open one diamond, your partner responds one spade, you bid two clubs and he rebids two spades. You try 2NT, and partner bids three clubs. What do you say?

ANSWER: Your 2NT described your hand reasonably well and tried for game. Partner has a weak hand with long spades and four clubs and wants to sign off at a partscore. Pass. You have no game. Partner may hold KJ7653,53,2,K1065.

South dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S Q

H A J 4

D A K J 6 3

C Q 8 7 3

WEST

S 7 6 4

H Q 8 7 5

D Q 4

C A 9 5 2

EAST

S 8 2

H 10 9 3 2

D 10 9 8 7 5

C K 6

SOUTH

S A K J 10 9 5 3

H K 6

D 2

C J 10 4

South West North East
1 S Pass 2 D Pass
2 S Pass 3 H Pass
4 S Pass 5 S All Pass
Opening lead — Choose it

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