When a match is decided by two IMPs, the players can reflect on many decisions that could have changed the outcome.

In the final of the Soloway Knockout Teams, the big event at the Fall NABC, Marty FLEISHER’s powerful squad (Martel, Bessis-Lorenzini, Sementa-Versace) met MESSIKA, four French players not known to me.

At one table in today’s deal, South for MESSIKA opened four clubs, North raised and East doubled. West judged to pass and led a heart. East won and switched to the queen of diamonds. Declarer lacked the entries to use dummy’s fifth heart; he lost a diamond and a spade. Down one, plus 200 to FLEISHER.

In the replay, South for FLEISHER opened one club despite a paucity of high cards. North bid one diamond, East overcalled one spade and South jumped lustily to three clubs. West bid four spades, North went to five clubs and East pushed on to five spades. After two passes, North doubled. What should South lead?

He tried a heart. Declarer won, drew trumps, ran the hearts to pitch his club and lost two diamonds, plus 850 and 12 IMPs to MESSIKA.

Daily question: You hold: ? Q ? 10 9 8 7 3 ? A 9 8 4 ? K J 2. Your partner opens one diamond, you respond one heart and he bids one spade. The opponents pass. What do you say?

Answer: If your partnership has agreed that a jump-preference by responder in this auction is invitational (and most pairs do treat it that way), a jump to three diamonds is perfect. But if three diamonds would be forcing, you must find a different call. Bid two clubs, a “fourth-suit” action, assuming it’s not forcing to game, or bid 2NT invitational, or underbid with two diamonds.

South dealer

Both sides vulnerable

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