BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x A 7 4
u K 10 5 2
v 8 6 3
w K 8 5
WEST EAST
x K 6 5 3 x 9
u 9 7 3 u Q J 6
v K Q 2 v J 10 9 4
w J 9 6 w Q 10 7 4 3
SOUTH
x Q J 10 8 2
u A 8 4
v A 7 5
w A 2
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 2x Pass
3v Pass 3u Pass
4x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of v
The rarest play in bridge is the smother play. Here is an example.
Despite 10 points, all prime, North judged correctly that his hand was worth no more than a single raise since it contained two flaws -- only three-card support and no ruffing value. South made a help-suit game try of three diamonds and North showed a hand with no help in diamonds but a heart feature and enough strength for game if that improved South's holding. South duly proceeded to four spades.
West led the king of diamonds, and it seemed that the fate of the contract hinged on the trump finesse. Declarer allowed the king of diamonds to win the first trick and captured the continuation of the queen with the ace. The queen of trumps was run and, when that held, South repeated the finesse. East's club discard was a profound shock. A large slice of luck was now required to land the game.
South crossed to dummy's king of clubs and led the remaining diamond. East won with the jack and exited with a club to declarer's ace.
The ace and king of hearts were cashed and a club was ruffed in the closed hand. Declarer now exited with a heart and was delighted to find that East had to win the trick.
The defender was trapped. No matter what card East returned, declarer would ruff with the eight of spades and West was left without recourse. Down to nothing but trumps, if West underruffed declarer would discard dummy's remaining club and the ace of spades would take the last trick. On the other hand, if West overruffed with the king, dummy would overruff with the ace and declarer would score the last trick with the ten. West's trump trick had vanished into thin air.
& copy; 2004 Tribune Media