By Neil Bonnell, Warwick Bridge Club
There are lots of wise sayings in bridge that are good general guides, but are dangerous when slavishly followed. One such is “Never underlead a King.” This means if you hold a suit such as West’s clubs, you should lead a card from another suit unless partner has bid that suit.
That brings us to Board 7 from last Monday. Most North/South pairs played in diamonds, but none managed to make game. Those who did make eleven tricks didn’t bid 5D. One intrepid pair settled on 3NT by South, putting West on lead. Without any help from partner, West led the six of hearts and the defence was over at trick one. Declarer could count nine top tricks: two spades, two hearts and five diamonds. Unwise discards on the run of the diamonds allowed declarer to make a tenth trick for a score of 660. One can imagine the reaction of East and West when declarer conceded the last three tricks. One was holding the King of clubs and the other the Ace and Queen. On the lead of a small club by West, East/West should take the first five tricks, defeating 3NT by one trick without declarer being able to win the lead. When East was on lead against a diamond contract, all the Easts were also reluctant to lead a club, expecting North to have the King.
Results: Monday, 11/10/21 (6-table Mitchell): N/S P. Kelly J. Nankervis (58.7) 1; J. Mobbs S. Goddard (56.3) 2; N. Collins D. Moran (54.7) 3 eq; N. Bonnell T. Hinde (54.7) 3eq. E/W J. Rose P. Campbell (57.3) 1; W. Milne J. Sipple (52.0) 2; B. Reid J. McKeen (49.0) 3. Friday, 15/10/21 (5-table Mitchell); N/S N. Collins M. Simpson (62.1) 1; T. Hinde D. Moran (60.4) 2. E/W W. Milne J. Sipple (59.2) 1; T. Graham J. Nankervis (58.7) 2.
