In a recent Gold Cup Match Round 1 Zia Mahmood was sitting West and overcalled an off centre 1NT and after a club lead the hand was all over with declarer making 9 tricks and with us losing the board as out team mates were in a Diamond partial.

I was particularly fascinated by the 1NT ( I can see he has aN escape valve in Diamonds and a source of tricks) because only that   week I was teaching one of my original pupils from 35 years ago and he informed me that I used to say you should have a DOUBLE Stopper when  overcalling with  1NT. That was the old Rhoda Barrow talking. Since then I say you need a stopper and wouldn’t it be nice to have a double stopper. When I mentioned this to Zia he said he had half a stopper – wasn’t that enough J  As you can see any other lead and we defeat the contract and he does get his comeuppance on this hand but it wasn’t to be. With a spade lead we take the first 9 tricks or even a Heart lead (partner's suit) if declarer tries a club finesse at trick 2 for his ninth trick – if only.  

You can also watch the following movie to see how the hand pans out. To view this programme you will need  to download htttp://www.haroldschogger.com/bridgevu.setup

  alternatively watch the film www.haroldschogger.com/movies2.htm

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