East-West vulnerable. South deals.

East-West vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x A 2
u Q J
v A K Q J 2
w Q 9 6 4
WEST EAST
x 7 x Q 9 6 3
u 7 5 4 2 u A 9 6 3
v 9 6 5 3 v 10 8
w A J 10 7 w 5 3 2
SOUTH
x K J 10 8 5 4
u K 10 8
v 7 4
w K 8
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2x Pass 4x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ace of w
Purely by coincidence, Trump Coup Tommy was in Denver when the Fall North American Bridge Championships were being held there over Thanksgiving. His hosts knew he played the game, but were unaware of his peculiar skill. Nothing but a card pusher on most hands, Tommy became a master when trumps broke badly. He soon had the opportunity to demonstrate his talent.
There was nothing to the auction. Tommy opened with a weak two-bid on the South hand, and his partner had an easy raise to game.
Had the hand been played at the club, Tommy would have claimed 10 or 11 tricks at trick one, depending on whether he had to lose a trump trick. But this was matchpoint pairs, and overtricks were vital.
West led the ace of clubs and switched to the five of hearts, won by East with the ace. The defender reverted to clubs, declarer winning with the king. Playing with his usual assurance on these hands, Tommy crossed to the ace of spades and finessed the jack on the way back. West's heart discard was a gift from the gods.
Tommy crossed to dummy with a diamond to the jack, ruffed a club, crossed to the table with the queen of diamonds and ruffed the queen of clubs! Tommy was now down to K J of trumps and K 10 of hearts, while East held Q 9 of trumps and 9 6 of hearts. Declarer returned to dummy with the queen of hearts and started running the diamonds. East could ruff at any time, but Tommy would overruff and pick up the queen of trumps for an overtrick and an excellent score.
& copy; 2006 Tribune Media Services
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