What is Shelly's right call? Should she bid 4, risking a big number (if LHO doubles), or should she pass and hope partner can defeat 4H?

"Oh my! Why do these things always happen to me?"

 South
   -
   -
   -
   -

There's no good answer for Shelly. It's a pure guess. Let's say that this time she passes.

What should she lead?

"Oh my! I forgot that if I passed, I'd be on lead."

 South
   -
   -
   -
   -

Shelly leads the jack of diamonds. It's her short suit, and maybe partner will hold the ace-king or ace-queen behind dummy's king. "I hope."

Declarer plays low from dummy, partner wins the ace and declarer follows with the 7. Now partner plays the king of clubs.

What are Shelly's thoughts? Which club do you think Shelly should play at trick two?

"Is there anything to think about?"

 South
   -
   -
   -
   -

Shelly's partner played the king of clubs to find out if that diamond lead was a singleton. Shelly must follow with the 7 of clubs to tell partner NOT to go back to diamonds. Partner will now cash out for down one.

But Shelly played a low club on the king. East thought she led a singleton diamond, and he tried to give her two diamond ruffs by returning a diamond at trick three. Disaster! Declarer won, drew trumps, ending in dummy, and discarded two clubs on the K-10 of diamonds, then led a spade toward the king to make his contract.

The key signal on this hand is a high club at trick two to tell partner to cash out. "Oh my! Why did he do this to me? All I did was follow suit."

THE END

 South
   K 9
   K Q T 9 6 5
   Q 7
   9 5 4

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