The Eight of Clubs by Foxymoron

 

All the playing cards have some meaning. In cartomancy the eight of clubs represents a casual or open relationship, but in bridge it has little significance. It was, however, crucial on the following hand. 

I was disappointed not to be sitting East-West on this hand, as I might well have reached the top spot of Six Diamonds here. With a couple of regular partners we should have bid (Pass)-Pass-(Pass)-2C*-(Pass)-2D*-(Pass)-2H*-(Pass)-2S*-(Pass)-2NT-(Pass)-3NT*-(Pass)-4D-(Pass)-5C-(Pass)-6D-All Pass. 2C is strong, 2D a relay, 2H is hearts or balanced, 2S a relay, 2NT is 20-22 and 3NT is Baron, forcing for one round. Then 4D is natural and 5C is a cue and a slam try. With good controls, West would accept. Declarer can ruff two hearts in hand and only needs trumps 3-2.

No pair found diamonds, and the number of tricks made in no-trumps varied. The right line in 6NT is to try to find someone with Ax of clubs, and then to run the diamonds hoping either for the jack of spades to drop or to squeeze a defender holding the jack of spades and five hearts. But it is a poor contract, and cannot make as the cards lie.

4NT was a popular contract, and, indeed, has ten top tricks. But that was below average and you needed to make 11 for a good score. On a passive diamond lead, say that you guess to play a club to the queen at trick two. It loses and a club comes back which you win. Now the line for 11 tricks is to cash the two top spades, two top hearts, and all the diamonds ending in East. South has to keep Jxxx in spades and therefore has to bare the jack of clubs. Now you can throw him in by exiting with the eight of clubs. But that is very much double-dummy, but is one of the reasons 5NT is making. The other is that you can duck a heart, and then play a club to the king, North must duck this, but now you can cash all the pointed-suit winners, and this squeezes North who has to bare the ace of clubs. If you read it, you can duck a club and make eleven that way. Again completely double dummy.

There is a free podcast from the author at Games and Gambling with Paul Lamford - YouTube