Good bidding, maybe

South in today’s deal was Chinese World Champion Jack Zhao, who has lived in Boca Raton, Florida, for many years.. The auction at the table is unknown to us, mainly because Zhao refuses to disclose it. We offer the possible auction above, where South’s two-club cue bid created a game force. The reason for West’s spade lead, rather than a high club, is also unknown to us, perhaps for the same reason. Zhao won the opening spade lead in hand with the king to lead a diamond. West rose with his ace and led another spade to dummy’s ace. Zhao led a heart to his 10, winning the trick, and led his remaining diamond. West played the jack and Zhao made the excellent decision to play low from dummy!

Should East overtake to give West a diamond ruff, Zhao would discard a spade from hand and eventually discard two more black losers on good diamonds in dummy. West’s jack won the trick, and he shifted to the king of clubs. Zhao won with his ace, cashed the king of hearts, and led a heart to dummy’s ace. This drew the trumps and Zhao led the queen of diamonds for a ruffing finesse. East covered and Zhao ruffed with his last trump. The queen of spades was an entry and dummy took two diamond tricks to give Zhao his contract. Very nicely played!