Bridge
West’s 1S overcall was the first pushy bid but it is important to get into the auction with the slightest excuse. North’s 2S showed a high card raise with heart support.
East’s 3C was a ‘non-jump fit bid’. As she hadn’t opened 3C, she couldn’t have just a long club suit, so it is logical to have this sequence show spade support and good clubs. 3S would have made but 4H was still a risky bid, as East confirmed with her double.
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Hide AdWest led the club 8 to the queen, king and 5. East returned the club jack, won with dummy’s ace. Declarer played a trump to the king and West’s ace won.
West now has a tough decision. Will one down for +100 be a good score? Does partner have diamond strength or the spade ace? He passed the test with flying colours, leading the spade king, then a spade to the ace, allowing East to play a club to promote the trump jack for two down and +300.
If, instead, West leads a spade to the ace, dummy’s c9 comes into play. Say East returns the club 10: declarer can ruff high, cross to the dQ and discard his remaining spade on the c9, going one down for a decent N-S score.