A Slight Hint from the Bidding?
|
 A 10 6 |
|
|
 Q 10 7 5 |
|
|
 A J 10 4 |
|
|
 K 5 |
|
| Q 4 |
|
J 9 8 2 |
| J 8 6 4 |
|
K 9 |
| 8 3 2 |
|
Q 7 5 |
| J 6 3 2 |
|
10 9 7 4 |
|
K 7 5 3 |
| West |
North |
East |
South |
|
A 3 2 |
|
|
|
Pass |
1 NT |
|
K 9 6 |
| Pass |
2 |
Pass | 2 |
| A Q 8 |
| Pass | 3 NT |
All | pass |
Opening lead was a low heart. Declarer made a right guess on the 10 of hearts, the king drawing the ace. Declarer made another right guess on a low diamond to the ace, finessing the 9 on the way back. He then cashed the king, went to dummy with the club king and cashed the ace of diamonds, East discarding a spade and South a heart. With all suits securely stopped, declarer cashed the ace, king of spades and lost a spade, now holding the long one for 12 tricks (4 diamonds, 3 clubs, 3 spades and two hearts).
How could East, with 2 four-card suits have known? Oh, come on, you know the answer: South bid spades in response to the 2 club (Stayman Convention) bid by his partner! Keep the same length as your opponent if you can and until you can see that your highest is lower than his lowest. If in so doing, you uncover a trick in another suit, you were (probably) squeezed, and there's no shame in that. But don't play squeezed when you're not!.