Bridge

Our expert panel are unanimous in bidding 2D on the first round. Two hearts they raise to four, and two no trump to three no trump.

The problem rebids for East are two spades and 3 clubs.

Simon Arnold. Over 2S I should bid 3D. considering the bid as constructive. Partner would probably give me three no trumps on KX of diamonds and something useful in the side suits. Over 3C I would bid 3H as fourth suit forcing, hoping for 3NT from partner.

Charlie Cahn. 2S I would pass. There is a good chance of making, and the time to stop on a misfit is at the two level. / should respond 3H to 3C as fourth suit forcing, to get 3NT played from the right hand.

Chas Flude. 3D over 2S is a constructive bid. I don't like to pass without making a further try. Over 3C / don't like 3D. it sounds too weak. / think a fourth suit bid of 4 hearts best over 3C.

Ross Qualye. I pass two spades. We should at least make them, and a further try may get us into a mess with a misfit. Over 3C / try for game with 3 hearts. I don't want to play no trumps from my hand.

After the bidding sequence

Easts bid of 2S was a use of the Fourth suit forcing convention, and asks West to bid no trumps with a stop in the suit.

North leads the 7S. East and South follow with low cards and the Os wins. Evidently the club suit must be established The danger is that in order to force out the queen of clubs and get back to dummy to run the club, you must lose the lead twice, once in clubs, and once in a red suit, which gives N S time to get their spades going. However, there is a cunning play by which West may make certain of his contract; by overtaking his king of clubs with the ace, leading the knave of clubs and discarding the ace of spades from hand.

Now if North-South clear spades. Declarer is in dummy to run his clubs for nine tricks, while the lead of a red suit establishes a ninth trick and an entry to dummy at the same time. A club return gives declarer ample time to get his ninth trick from hearts or diamonds.

This play is less easy to see if West has KX of clubs and one fewer diamond, when the temptation is to take a finnesse in clubs. However, at rubber bridge this would be bad play, as the play of king followed by a small one to the ace and the discard of the ace of spades on the jack of clubs makes the contract certain.

Next week our expert panel will discuss how they would play this hand at match-point pairs.

on the same bidding and lead.