Bridge Match 2 - Board 22

Board 22 – Dealer East – EW Vul

Opponents convention card: Bridge World Standard
Opponents playing strength: Fair

My hand: ♠ 7 4 ♥ Q 4 3 ♦ 9 8 6 5 3 ♣ A J T

East opens 1 club. I pass. West responds 1 spade. Partner passes. East retreats to 1NT. West bids 3 diamonds, East bids 3NT.

I lead the Q of hearts.

WEST ♠ A K Q 5 3 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A T 4 2 ♣ 8
	SOUTH ♠ 7 4 ♥ Q 4 3 ♦ 9 8 6 5 3 ♣ A J T

West	North	East	South
		1♣	Pass
1♠	Pass	1NT	Pass
3♦	Pass	3NT	All Pass

Q-5-7-A. They switch to diamonds. Q-3-2-J. And now to spades. 2-7-Q-9. Back to hearts. 6-2-T-3. Spades. 6-4-K-8. Diamonds. 4-7 of clubs-K-5. They have 6 tricks in, and 3 high cards on board. I don't think we get to set them! They proceed to cash those 3 tricks and then give up the lead and we cash 4 tricks. Just in.

	NORTH ♠ J T 9 8 ♥ J 7 2 ♦ J ♣ K 7 4 3 2
WEST ♠ A K Q 5 3 ♥ 8 6 5 ♦ A T 4 2 ♣ 8		EAST ♠ 6 2 ♥ A K T 9 ♦ K Q 7 ♣ Q 9 6 5
	SOUTH ♠ 7 4 ♥ Q 4 3 ♦ 9 8 6 5 3 ♣ A J T

3NT just in is good enough for a shared top board, for 13MPs. It turns out all 8 tables played 3NT but they made up one 3 times and up two 3 times. I imagine most teams played clubs early and gave them the club Q? Or maybe most declarers set up the 5th spade?

Captain Jack disagrees with my Q of hearts lead. He wanted me to lead the 3 of hearts. I was worried doing so would confuse partner about how many hearts I had. On the other hand leading an unsupported honour didn't feel right either. My assertion was that it was the unbid suit and therefore hopefully wouldn't hurt too much. But I would have chosen a low diamond over a low heart I think.

Ranking after board 22/60: 6/16 with 52.27%