On this deal North is likely to open 1C, unless you are playing a system which allows you to show an 18 point hand in some other way. South bids 1H and now North can bid either 3H or 4H, but with good heart support and a strong club suit 4H is likely to be the popular choice.

West will have listened to the bidding and will probably opt for a heart lead.

Declarer should plan the play carefully to make at least 11 tricks.

Examination of the results below for the five pairs playing in heart contracts shows that one pair made only 9 tricks three pairs made 10 tricks and one pair made 12 tricks.

To play a heart contract declarer should draw trumps in 3 rounds then play off the AK of spades. Now lead a low club from hand and finesse the club Jack. This is safety play guarding against a 3;1 split in clubs (the odds are 3:1 50%;; 2:2  41%; and 4:0 10%.); but, more importantly you are protecting against West gaining the lead and playing a diamond through Dummy’s Kx. If West holds three clubs including the Queen you can only lose one diamond. Note that you have eliminated spades between the two hands so that if East wins the first club trick he/she cannot get off lead with a spade because this allows declarer to a ruff in hand and a diamond discard in dummy.

Results

 1^st   J Tagg & E Jurgensen……..57.9% 

  2^nd H Clohessy & M Wesselo…55.7%

  3^rd K Tyndall & E Rodrigues…..54.8%