A Null Ouvert from the Kite Feb 9

[Mike Tobias]

As Forehand, holding
C A
S KJ1097
H 8
D AKQ

What do you play against MH's null ouvert?
C KJ987
S
H J1097
D 8

[John McLeod]

First the ace of clubs, then the 8 of hearts, and then hope to throw your diamonds on the next three tricks. If it wasn't open I would just start with the 8 of hearts, and the result would be the same after I discarded my CA on the heart return. I think this is the deal where at our table Mark played Null Hand, Maria led the H8 and we defeated the contract.

[Mike Tobias]

Yes it was that hand. I was in HH holding
C Q10
S A8
H AKQ
D 1097

and could easily see from my position that the CA had to be led first for FH to be able to discard 3 Diamonds. I confess I missed at the time, that it could still have been defeated if the CA had been discarded on one of my hearts.