Bridge Column for October 25, 1992 Dealer: South Vulnerable: None S: A 9 3 H: 7 D: A J 10 5 4 C: K Q 6 2 S: Q 10 8 5 4 2 N S: Void H: Q 5 W E H: K J 6 4 3 D: Q 9 7 2 S D: 6 3 C: 4 C: J 9 8 7 5 3 S: K J 7 6 H: A 10 9 8 2 D: K 8 C: A 10 SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1NT PASS 2C DBL 2H PASS 3NT PASS 4S PASS PASS PASS One of the most asked questions in the game of bridge is "What is the best advice you can give me to help improve my game"? Those of you who have followed this column will know that I would advise counting every hand. But another good answer to that question is "Make the bid (or play) that will be the easiest to explain in the post mortem!" And remember, the post mortem often starts as soon as the dummy is placed on the table. South decided that he did not have a strong enough hand to open one heart and then bid spades, so he simply opened the bidding with one no trump. North was very happy to hear his partner's opening bid. After all, this was rubber bridge and many points were going to be accumulated on this deal. But then, on the way to wherever he was going, North tried to get "too cute". He decided that if he bid two clubs, the "Stayman" convention, asking for a major suit fit, it was very likely that South would respond in hearts and then, when he jumped to three no trump, the defender on opening lead would be more likely to lead a minor because the assumption would be that North's suit was spades and South's suit was hearts. This plan quickly fell apart when South, "knowing" that North had four spades, corrected three no trump to the right contract, four spades. To North's credit, he did not try to repair the damage. He simply passed and tried to put the dummy down in such a way that nobody would see it. The opening lead was the four of clubs, and not because of North's bidding, but because of East's double of the Stayman two club bid. The two was played from the dummy. East contributed the jack, and the trick was won by the ace. South led a spade to the ace and discovered the trump situation. North's singleton heart was led to the ace in the South hand and a heart led back. This was trumped in dummy with the three of spades, while both defenders followed suit. Now a small club was led to the ten. East followed low and West trumped low. This was the position at this point: S: 9 H: Void D: A J 10 5 4 C: K Q S: Q 10 8 5 N S: Void H: Void W E H: K J 6 D: Q 9 7 2 S D: 6 3 C: Void C: 9 8 5 S: K J 7 H: 10 9 8 D: K 8 C: Void It is right for West to now return a trump, which will result in a one trick set. When the hand actually took place, West led a small diamond which was ducked around to South's king. The ten of hearts was led and West trumped with the ten of spades. A diamond was pitched from dummy, and East followed with a low heart. West led a trump (a little late) which was won in the South hand with the jack. The eight of diamonds was led to the jack and then the ace of diamonds allowed South to discard a heart. In the three card ending, the king of clubs was played from North and declarer pitched his last heart. West can trump or not, he will only score one more trick. The post mortem was lively to say the least. North tried to explain what caused him to even think of bidding Stayman; East knew that his double of the two club bid was foolish; while West just wanted to move on to the next hand rather than figure out how this hand was made with trump breaking so badly. And as for South - well, he was justly rewarded for his fine bidding and careful play. Here is how I think the auction should have gone: SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST 1NT PASS 3D PASS 3NT PASS PASS PASS West, on lead against this auction, would most likely lead the five of spades and South would be able to win eleven or twelve tricks, depending on his line of play.