From                  12th July, 2006, Board 24

                                                 Theme               Deadly Shifts    

                                                 Difficulty            * * *

                                                 Dlr  West           None Vul

East's 3NT bid denies a 4-card major, and shows 13-15 HCPs.

South leads the 7♠, and your agreements are that you lead 4th best against No Trump contracts, except that, from 4 small cards, you lead the second highest.  So, there are two questions to be asked here.  From which holding has Partner led?  And what are you going to to about it? 

SOLUTION

Partner has clearly led from QJ87 or 87xx.  Many players would lead the Queen from QJ87, so it seems more likely that Partner has led from 8732.  An additional piece of evidence is West's bidding ... would he really jump to 3NT with three small Spades?  Surely, a Club raise or a 1♦ bid would be more appropriate.

If we place our money on the 87xx lead, we must clearly shift to Hearts.  But not just any old Heart!  The only way to beat this contract is to lead the J♥.

If we shift of a low Heart, Declarer will play low, South will win the Ten, but will then be unable to continue the suit with giving away a trick.  But the J♥ shift is lethal!  East covers with the Queen, won by the King, continues with the Ten, which knocks out the Ace and sets up North's mighty Seven and Five.

Keys to Success

   - Studying the spots on the opening lead

   - Weighing the evidence to conclude that Partner probably has 4 small Spades

   - Shifting to the Jack of Hearts