FIRESIDE QUERY from Saturday 11th April 1998
The hand above came up last Fireside session taken by me and we were all concerned that East might feel deprived that he may have missed out from bidding 1S once the opponent on his right had responded 1S.
After consulting David Edwin, ADY, he believes that it is right for East not to continue to bid in view of the bidding and that he hasn't in fact missed out in a contract of 4S.
If South continually plays clubs then declarer will certainly be forced before he wishes to be!!
Also on the bidding declarer is likely to finesse the Spade 10. This force will certainly mean the contract will fall apart and what superficially looked like a comfortable 10/11 tricks will turn into a nightmare for East if he ventures 4S
Even if South passes the 2d overcall West is hardly likely to bid over his partners intervention and then the contract is likely to subside in 2D without West venturing in with his meager 6 count.