Bridge: Dec. 10, 2023

When today’s East opened one club, South overcalled 1NT, vulnerable. How do you rate that call?

South had 16 points, balanced pattern and a club trick, the textbook requirements. Still, 1NT was risky: If North had zilch, South might have been doubled and clobbered. Many experts are reluctant to overcall 1NT with only 16 points.

South’s bid was imperfect in another way: His club stopper was “primary.” To act would have been more attractive with Q7,AK82,KQ63,Q54. Then South might have to spend only two of his high-card points to win a club trick, leaving more points to establish tricks elsewhere.

As it happened, South’s bid worked out when North transferred to game at spades. West led a club: three, ten, ace. Declarer then embarked on an ill-fated line of play. He took his three high hearts to pitch dummy’s last club and next led a trump to the king.

East took the ace and led a low diamond. South put up his king and West took the ace and led the ten of hearts, putting declarer in a bind: If he ruffed high or low in dummy, East would win a second trump trick. So South instead threw a diamond from dummy, but East threw the jack of diamonds. Then West led a second diamond, and East ruffed. Down one.

South’s play might have been right. Alternatively, he could have forced out the ace of trumps at Trick Two. Then East could cash a club and shift to a diamond, but when South won the second diamond, he could draw trumps and discard dummy’s last diamond on a high heart to make the game.

East dealer

N-S vulnerable

NORTH

S K Q J 6 4 3

H Q 7

D 9 8 5

C 6 3

WEST

S 9 5

H 10 9 6 5

D A 10 7 4

C 9 7 2

EAST

S A 10 2

H J 4 3

D J 2

C K Q J 10 8

SOUTH

S 8 7

H A K 8 2

D K Q 6 3

C A 5 4

East South West North
1 C 1 NT Pass 4 H
Pass 4 S All Pass
Opening lead — C 2

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