ª  5 3 
©  K J 8 5 2
¨  9 7 2
§  10 8 3

 

You are fourth to bid and it’s all over before your turn arrives.  It did not matter since you had nothing to say.

 

South       West     North      East
                 1¨         1ª         3NT
 Pass

 

The question is “what to lead?”  Jerry helms said: “ I would take my hearts, stack them up and put them in my pocket.”  Why is this?  Because (1) you would be leading away from the K-J; (2) in the unlikely event you could establish a fourth or fifth heart, there would be no entry to them;  (3) partner’s overcall is indicative of a good five-card suit. 

 

Overcalls are made as much to suggest leads as they are toward competing for contracts.  Here spades are more likely to win slow tricks than hearts, and if you are patient your heart king and perhaps jack may win tricks.  But most importantly, a spade lead will please partner.