This Real Deal comes from Katie Thorpe

Vul:None Dlr: East	7 K953 KQ95 KJ105
98643 Q106 AJ87 7		AKQ 2 106432 A863
	J1052 AJ874 -- Q942

West	North	East	South
		1	1
1	2	Pass	3
3	4	All Pass

The Auction:

We have 11 calls to examine—thanks a lot for all the work, Katie!

After East’s normal opening, what should South do? A takeout double would require more HCP. Even if you added an ace I’d prefer to overcall in the 5-card major (instead of doubling and missing a potential 5-3 fit). With the actual hand, South has too much offensive potential to timidly pass. That leads to the 1 overcall shown.

West responds 1 which, after the 1 overcall, promises 5 or more spades (a negative double would show exactly 4).

North has a wonderful hand in support of hearts, almost enough to consider driving to game. For now, we show a cuebid of 2. This is a stronger cuebid than 2 since it propels N-S to the 3-level.

East wants to raise spades but doesn’t have enough to raise on the three level. A double would show a stronger hand, so East reluctantly passes.

South has a minimum in HCP for the overcall, but great distribution and too much to simply sign off in 3. A 3 game-try is shown. This shows something in clubs and more than a dead minimum.

West has enough shape/strength to throw in a diamond raise.

A sign of life is all North needed and he jumps to the heart game.

East is tempted to bid 4 or 5. Either call is quite possible, but here we have East guessing to pass. It turns out that neither 4 nor 5 would make on the actual layout (maybe on some other day).

West is likely tempted to double, but I’d advise against it. If dummy had the J and another honor, say KJxx, the double would tip declarer off as to how to play the trump suit.

The Opening Lead:

There are conflicting rules here:

1) Lead partner’s suit, but…

2) Don’t lead or underlead an ace against a suit contract.

3) When in doubt, lead a side-suit singleton against a suit contract, but…

4) There is no need to lead a singleton when you have a natural trump trick.

So, rules 1 and 2 contradict each other as do 3 & 4. Often on opening lead you will find yourself facing a guess, trying to decide which rule (if any) to follow or ignore.

My experience shows that #3 has been the most successful. Accordingly, let’s have West lead the singleton club.

The Play:

Four hearts is a good contract. There are the two black-suit tricks to lose and declarer might also budget to lose a trump trick (as is sure to happen on this actual layout). But, other than that, prospects are good. Declarer can hope to trump some spades in dummy, and maybe also do something with the KQ (especially if East has the ace).

It turns out that on any lead but a club, declarer can make the contract. It is complicated; you’ll just have to take my word for it.

But as often happens, the singleton lead is the killing defense. The defenders can take the first 4 tricks. East wins the A and returns a club. Why?

On this auction, when West could have led his spades or the diamonds which were bid and raised, why would he lead a third suit? Usually, the reason would be because it is a singleton.

Which club should East return? When giving a partner a ruff, we use a suit-preference signal. Returning a low club (the 3 in this case) would say: “Partner, after you trump this, I suggest you play diamonds, the lower ranking of the other two suits.” Returning a high club (the 8 in this case) would suggest spades, the higher-ranking of the other two suits. (We don’t consider the suit led or the trump suit as being in play).

Here, no signal was really needed. After West trumps, he knows he can’t reach partner in diamonds. So, he plays the 9 (“Top Of Nothing”). East wins and issues another club ruff for down one; nice defense. Surely as East you wouldn’t make the mistake of cashing a spade at trick two, killing the entry for the second club ruff.

Lesson Points:

1) Don’t make a takeout double with only 8 HCP.

2) Don’t make a takeout double as opposed to overcalling in a 5-card major.

3) After a 1 overcall, a 1 response guarantees at least 5 spades.

4) Don’t make borderline penalty doubles that might tip off your trump holding.

5) When in doubt, lead a side-suit singleton (against a suit contract).

6) When giving partner a ruff, use a suit-preference signal.