Bridge Column for October 2, 1994 
Neither side vulnerable.  West deals.
                              NORTH
                              S: A K 10 6 3       
                              H: 9 8 6 5     
                              D: 8 6         
                              C: 7 4     
            WEST                             EAST
            S: Q 4 2                         S: J 9 8 7 5    
            H: K Q 10 4 2                    H: A 3        
            D: J 7 4                         D: 10 9 5 2          
            C: Q 3                           C: K 5         
                              SOUTH                         
                              S: V o i d
                              H: J 7        
                              D: A K Q 3   
                              C: A J 10 9 8 6 2
                   WEST   NORTH     EAST   SOUTH                  
                   Pass    Pass     Pass    2C  
                   Pass    2S       Pass    3C  
                   Pass    3H       Pass    3NT 
                   Pass    Pass     Pass    
     The North-South pair were playing "weak two bids".  An
opening bid of two spades, hearts, or diamonds would indicate a
six card suit headed by a couple of honors and a hand with not
more than eleven high card points.  The two club opening bid is
reserved for any hand with 21 or more high card points or the
equivalent distributional value.
     South, in fourth seat, held fifteen high card points and a
void, but was able to justify his two club opening bid because he
had only four losers in the hand.  This type of hand valuation is
called for when you are holding a "distributional" hand.  You
count one loser for each missing ace, king, or queen in a suit
that you have cards in.  Looking at the South hand, there are no
spades so no spade losers.  There are two small hearts so count
two losers.  You hold the top three diamonds so there are no
losers in that suit.  The king and queen of clubs are missing for
two more losers, or a total of four.
     North's response is positive, that is, a five card suit
headed by two of the top three honors.  South's next bid simply
shows that his suit really is clubs.  North must bid again.  On
the off chance that South has hearts as a second suit, he bids
three hearts.  The final bid of three no trump was really a shot
in the dark since it was obvious that the two hands did not
"fit".
     West selected the queen of hearts as the opening lead. 
Tournament players normally agree that the lead of the queen
against a no trump contract asks partner to play the jack, if he
has that card.  East does not have the jack but plays the ace and
returns the three of hearts.  The jack now appears from South. 
West wins the king and plays the ten, which holds.  A small heart
is played to declarer's nine and West now waits to see if he can
regain the lead to cash the established long heart.
     With the lead in dummy for the first and last time, a small
club was led.  East played low and declarer played the ace and
another club.  When East had to win this trick with the king, the
hand was over.  Declarer was able to win any return and claim.
     Afterwards, East did a good job of beating himself up for
not rising with the king of clubs when they were first led.  From
his point of view, if declarer won the ace and played a second
club partner would be able to win the queen and cash the heart
for down one.  East should not be so hard on himself, if he rises
with the king, declarer should simply let him hold the trick. 
The question is, will he?