Jimmy Sez # 18

Jimmy says, ”Suit good enough to bid is good enough to lead.”. 

This was the first hand at a Wednesday JCC club game.  Look at the hand and see what happens with a spade lead and what occurred without it.  I played as South.

S- A Q 9 6 4

                                                            H- A J 10 6

                                                            D- 4

                        S- J 8 5 3 2                C- 8 6 2                      S- 7

                        H- 5                                                                 H- K 7 3 2

                        D- A Q 10 6                                                   D- J 8 3 2

                        C- 9 7 4                      S- K 10                       C- K Q 5 3

                                                            H- Q 9 8 4

D- K 9 7 5

C- A J 10

Bidding                                

S         W        N         E                    

1D       1S       Dbl      Pass

2H       Pass   4H!      Pass

Pass   Pass  

Lead: club four                              

South took the club queen with the ace and led to the heart ten which lost to the king.  Who can blame East for continuing to attack clubs, hoping for 2 clubs and a diamond to defeat the contract.  When the club jack won South played the trump nine and discovered the 4-1 break.  It was obvious that East had at most a singleton spade and if trump were drawn the contract would go down.  South led the diamond seven that was taken by West.  The return was a small spade taken with South’s ten.  Notice the position after South ruffs a small diamond with the trump ace then overtakes dummy’s trump jack with his queen.

                                                            S- A Q 9 6

                                                            H-

                                                            D-

                        S- J 8 5                      C-                                S-

H-                                                                                                                                        H- 7

D- A                                                                D- J 8

C-                                S- K                            C- 3

                                    H- 8

                                                            D- K 9

                                                            C-

Notice what happens when the last trump is drawn by South.  West must surrender his diamond ace or let three spades make.  Notice that the contract cannot be made with a spade lead as East will surely get a ruff to defeat the contract. Notice also how important it was to keep communication in the trump suit.

Rule: If suit isn’t a good lead don’t overcall it.