Today’s deal from a local club game provides a good lesson in declarer-play technique. The bidding shown was common at many tables: After West’s preemptive opening, North made a takeout double (a little light perhaps, but it’s difficult to pass) and South could not resist jumping to Blackwood and bidding six notrump.
The final contract is sound, and in fact superior to a slam in clubs. Why? Because in notrump declarer can postpone his guess for the queen of clubs, whereas in clubs declarer must make this decision immediately for fear of a ruff.
6 NT by South
None Vul |
 K Q 10 8 2 A 9 7 A 10 9 6 5 |
|
| 7 2 K Q J 10 7 5 4 6 3 Q 2 |
 |
9 6 5 4 3 6 10 8 5 4 2 4 3 |
| Lead: K |
A J 8 A 9 3 K Q J K J 8 7 |
| West 3 Pass All Pass |
North Dbl 5 |
East Pass Pass |
South 4 NT 6 NT |
Let’s consider the play as it might have occurred at three different tables.
“Average Joe” was declarer at table one. After winning the second heart lead, he…Click Here to continue