Board : 5  SET HAND 1 October 2009
Back Basics
Next Hand
Dealer: N North
Vulnerable: N/S S 7  4  2
H A  6
D A  K  Q  6  2
C T  6  4
West East
S J  9  6  3 S T  8  5
H K  5  4  2 H Q  T  9  8  3
D J  T  4 D 5
C A  K C J  8  7  3
S A  K  Q
H J  7
D 9  8  7  3
C Q  9  5  2
Lead: TH South
Bidding
N E S W
1NT P 2NT P
3NT P P P

Bidding and Play

North should open 1NT. The hand was played 9 times and 5 Norths opened  one diamond. This is incorrect. Let us see what happened. Two of them were saved by their partners who ignored the the 8 card fit and bid 2NT. Another two found that South raised them to 3D, which made, for 140 points, which is a pity as 3NT should make giving N/S 600. At another table the bidding went  1D - P - 2D - and West doubled allowing E/W to find their Heart fit. Their contract went one down giving N/S 50 points placing them almost bottom on that board.
The play for 3NT should have been easy. East leads the TH which W will duck if declarer calls for the 7, or cover the Jack. North wins the trick with the AH. North's plan is to now take his 5 Diamonds and 3 Spades which with the Heart makes the contract. He should realize that as he has no entries he must discard his high diamonds from dummy hanging on to the three to get between the hands.  If he doesn't the suit blocks for one down.

Any Questions? Email me on bridge@rrandlch.plus.com