BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x 6 5
u K Q 5
v J 8 6 4 3
w J 7 6
WEST EAST
x K 9 2 x 8 3
u J 10 9 8 u A 7 6 4 2
v Q 9 v 10 7
w A Q 10 4 w 9 8 3 2
SOUTH
x A Q J 10 7 4
u 3
v A K 5 2
w K 5
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 1NT Pass
3v Pass 4vPass
4x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Jack of u
Study the bidding and play of this deal, then decide: Did anyone err? If so, who and why?
With only a four-loser hand, South was correct to jump shift. After North's diamond raise, South showed the quality of his major suit and North quite properly passed.
Declarer played low from dummy on the jack of hearts as East signaled with the seven. The heart continuation was covered with the queen and ace and ruffed. With no entry to dummy, declarer played the ace and queen of spades, losing to the king. West exited with a diamond, won in the closed hand with the king. Declarer drew the remaining trump and cashed the ace of diamonds. When the queen dropped, declarer was able to discard his two clubs on a long diamond and a high heart, making an overtrick.
Declarer played well in not covering the first heart, since a club shift by East is obvious and would have netted two club tricks to set the hand. However, East should have defeated the contract by rising with the ace of hearts at trick one and returning a club through South, netting two club tricks from the defenders.
This defense is not that difficult. The auction marks declarer with 10 cards in spades and diamonds. With two hearts and one club, declarer would surely have covered the jack of hearts at trick one. The only chance to defeat the contract was to find declarer with two clubs missing the A Q, so it had to be right to shoot up with the ace of hearts and shift to a club.
& copy; 2004 Tribune Media Services