This is a straightforward deal in which all 7 pairs should be playing in 4H; but 3 of the seven pairs who played this deal opted for 3NT. After East has responded to West’s Blackwood 2C by bidding 2S West should bid 3H, a bid which shows a 5 card heart suit, but also offer some protection against a diamond lead as a minor suit lead is likely after the auction. East with two honours in hearts opts for the heart game instead of bidding 3NT. Note that if the final contract is 3NT South should lead the diamond 10 (top of an interior sequence). This should lead to 5 diamond tricks for the defenders.

Four hearts can also go down if a club trick is lost, but leading the club Jack from dummy and then playing the Ace from hand if South does not cover, followed by a finesse against North makes the contract.

Results

3NTE = (twice); 3NTE +1; 4HW -1 (3 times); 4HW =.

N-S 1^st J Faulkner & A Ridderhof……66.7% 

        2^nd W jurgensen & K Satchwell…60.0%

E-W 1^st L Kolesky & G Dempers……..59.6%

        2^nd J Tagg & E Jurgensen………58.6%