Post Post Mortem

N/S Vul
MPs
Dealer: East
Lead: 2

	dickfu Q 10 9 6 K 7 5 K 7 3 K 8 3
janiner K 8 5 4 J 8 6 4 10 9 7 5 4		Maestro 7 3 A 4 2 Q J 10 9 6 5 Q J
	herbr A J 2 Q 10 9 3 A 8 2 A 6 2

West Pass Pass Pass

North 1 3NT Pass

East Pass 2 4 Pass

South 1 2NT Dbl

The opening diamond bid was Precision, showing fewer than 16 points and 2+ diamonds. Two diamonds is risky — the responder is unlimited and opener may have a diamond suit — but at least defensible at the favorable vulnerability. We shall discuss what four diamonds showed in a moment.

There is nothing to the play. Six tricks: four trumps, the SK and the HA. Gerard takes his six tricks for -800 and zero matchpoints. Then he apologizes to his partner — for the play! One of the spectators points out that maybe the four diamond bid was the problem. “There was nothing wrong about my bidding,” says Gee. “3NT is clearly cold…4D was a good bid, your insinuation is nasty at best.”

One hates to insinuate nastily, and 3NT is indeed cold on a diamond lead. But on a club lead, which is unlikely but possible from the West hand, declarer has only eight tricks unless he finds the HJ, which is by no means certain. In 4D West has five playing tricks. Partner needs to show up with two tricks to beat the actual result, and if she does then 3NT might go down as well.