Have you ever played in Stayman?

Have you ever played in Stayman?

Oh, I know you've played the convention. No, I mean played the hand in Stayman.  My partner did so yesterday evening:

W

West

N

Poor pard!

E

East

S

Me

—

—

Pass

1NT¹

Pass

2♦²

All Pass

(1) 12-15

(2) Game-forcing Stayman

Having recently switched to a weak NT structure, we had been practicing escape sequences if the NT bid got doubled.  If West had doubled, 2D by partner would be a sign-off. As you can see, West did not double, but I was well and truly engrossed into escape sequences. Hence the pass of partner's Stayman bid.  Partner played the silly contract rather well, but 2D making 7 was worth zero match points.

But there are some days when the luck is with you. We did not have a spectacular game, but still ended up with 56% and in second place.  Here's one instance of luck being with us -- they got to 5C on this sequence:

W

Me

N

North

E

East

S

Declarer

—

—

—

1♣

1♥

2♦

Pass

5♣

All Pass

Sitting West, and holding my cards, what do you lead?

.

N

Dummy

♠

xx

♥

KQJxx

♦

AKJxx

♣

5

W

Me

♠

AQ9

♥

A9852

♦

10543

♣

6

Lead: ♣6

I decided to lead a low trump.  Partner contributes the 9 and declarer wins with the 10.  Declarer now advances the 3 of hearts.  What do you do?

The play of declarer's singleton was suspicious -- it is almost as if declarer was trying to set up a bunch of discards. So, I took my Ace of hearts and put down the Ace of spades. Partner encouraged this, and we cashed three spades. 5C down 2 was worth all of the matchpoints.  This was the full deal:

.

Vul: None

Dlr: North

N

North

♠

xx

♥

KQJxx

♦

AKJxx

♣

5

.

W

West

♠

AQ9

♥

A9852

♦

10543

♣

6

Lead: ♣6

E

Me

♠

K10xxx

♥

xx

♦

Qxxx

♣

9x

.

S

South

♠

Jxx

♥

3

♦

—

♣

AKQJ10xxxx

.

Why was this result lucky? Because most of the field was in Gambling 3NT, making.  The only way to beat it is for West to cash his AQ of spades and lead a spade to his partner. Lead anything else (except Ace heart, then shift to spades), and declarer has 11 top tricks. Lead the 9 of spades, and spades are blocked. Understandably, no one found that defense -- I don't think I would have found it either.

Finding the defense to 5C was far easier and on days when Lady Luck is with you, the defenses you are called on to find are easier.