Off to a bad start

In the last 16 of the Hubert Phillips we are playing against one of the seeded teams. The match got off to a bad start on the first board, when we had a chance to pick up a game swing, but inferior play at both tables meant that the swing went to the opponents.

		♠ A Q 6 4 ♥ K 10 7 ♦ 9 6 ♣ 10 9 8 2
	♠ J 9 ♥ A 8 5 4 2 ♦ J 5 3 2 ♣ 7 4

At my table, I was South and LHO opened a strong no-trump after two passes. Partner (Martin) overcalled with an Asptro 2♦ (spades and another suit) and RHO raised to 3NT. Partner led the eight of spades (2nd highest from a bad suit) and declarer won with the King in hand. After much thought, he led a heart to the Jack, King and I won with the ace. Now what? I returned the two of diamonds - not good enough as the full hand was

	♠ 10 8 7 3 2 ♥ J ♦ A Q 10 4 ♣ K 6 5
♠ K 5 ♥ Q 9 7 3 ♦ K 8 7 ♣ A Q J 3		♠ A Q 6 4 ♥ K 10 7 ♦ 9 6 ♣ 10 9 8 2
	♠ J 9 ♥ A 8 5 4 2 ♦ J 5 3 2 ♣ 7 4

My diamond lead went to the eight and ten. Martin now played Ace and another diamond but declarer won and ran his hearts to squeeze North. Although Martin bared his King of clubs smoothly, he was marked with the King after the overcall and declarer dropped it to make an overtrick. There is only one card for me to play at trick 3 - the Jack of diamonds.

In the other room, our team mates were playing a weak no-trump so West opened 1♥ . North overcalled 1♠ and South doubled the final contract of 3NT. I think that this asked for a non-spade lead, so North led ace and another diamond. Declarer can now make the contract by playing on hearts and then squeezing North in the black suits, but in practice she took the club finesse and was one down.

Although North found an overcall in both rooms, I'm not sure that it was a wise choice as it gave declarer the clue to the winning line.Without the overcall, declarer would surely take the club finesse.