Eddie is still playing and I run into Bobby Levin in the ballroom. The first thing he says is: “Did you see how they cheated you yesterday?” I guess he has seen the non-heart lead against 1 NT with 10xx-KJ109x-J-Q8xx, and I am about to tell him about the “misclaim” in 4 spades. Then he says: “That 5 club hand, did you see it?” It looked like this (Board 22, Closed room):
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So against 5 hearts – they are red you are white – you lead the king of clubs and get the 8 from partner (upside-down count) and declarer follows with the 4 of clubs. What would you do at trick two?
Well, I would expect declarer’s distribution to be 4=6=2=1 since he bid 5 over 5 opposite an invitational hand by partner. If he’d had 4=5=3=1 or 3=6=3=1 it seems clear to double (or pass).
To switch to a spade is highly risky if declarer has KJ9x, AQ9x, AK9x or KQJx. It would just let the contract through. So for a world class player it’s extremely logical – totally clear that is – to switch to a diamond (you can not afford to play a passive club in case declarer has KQJx or is able to scoop the spade suit for three tricks). Versace, Helgemo and Hamman will all switch to a diamond. Every day in the year. So would Lotan Fisher – though he is definitely not the No. 1 in the world, I will give him a World Class rank – unless he had some extra information.
Lotan switched to the 10 of spades. His partner took the king and ace in the suit and gave Lotan a spade ruff. Two down. Easy game.