Relatively Small Margin

Pages: Page 4 of 5

Dealer: South
Vuln: N-S
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeQ 7
  2. heartA Q 8
  3. diamondQ 10 9 2
  4. clubQ 6 5 4
  1. spadeJ 5 3
  2. heart7 5 4 3
  3. diamondJ 4
  4. clubK J 9 8
club diamond heart spade NT
N - 4 3 - -
S - 4 3 - -
E 2 - - 3 -
W 2 - - 3 -
Green square in centre
  1. spadeA K 9 6 4
  2. heart9
  3. diamond7 6 5
  4. clubA 10 3 2

Contract: 3NT
Declarer: North
Lead: ?
  1. spade10 8 2
  2. heartK J 10 6 2
  3. diamondA K 8 3
  4. club7
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
1heart
Pass 2club* 2spade Pass
Pass 2NT Pass 3NT
Pass Pass Pass

* GF

Although it could have been correct with some layouts, East found the wrong moment to lead a low spade. Declarer, Tony Forrester, won spadeQ and gratefully cashed a rapid ten tricks. North-South +630.

What would have happened if East had put an initial spadeA (or spadeK) on the table. From his partner's spade3, showing an odd number, he can see that there is nothing to be gained by continuing with a low spade. When spadeQ drops on the next round, East continues with a suit-preference spade4 asking for a club continuation. Whatever club West chooses there should be no problems in collecting four club tricks to go with the five spade winners. That's +500 to East-West instead of -630. What's the significance of this..?
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