Neither vulnerable. North deals.



Neither vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x K 7 5
u A 7 4
v Q J 8
w A 8 7 4
WEST EAST
x J 6 4 x 3
u Q 9 3 2 u J 10 6
v K 10 6 4 v A 9 7 3 2
w J 9 w Q 10 3 2
SOUTH
x A Q 10 9 8 2
u K 8 5
v 5
w K 6 5
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1w Pass 1x Pass
1NT Pass 4x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Four of v
Some years ago, the International Bridge Press Association published a series of bridge tips sponsored by the Dutch liquor company Bols. This tip is by world champion Billy Eisenberg. The deal is from a duplicate event, where overtricks are golden.
The bidding was routine. With a sound opening bid and a good six-card suit, South had no problem rebidding four spades.
"Most declarers realize the advantage of playing low from dummy when the queen is led through a king. The ace is almost certainly residing over the king and, by playing low once or twice from dummy, the ace may fall, establishing the king as a trick. However, there are also many other holdings where declarer can gain a full trick by playing low from dummy in situations that are not as well known.
"Breathes there a declarer among us who would not put up an honor from dummy when the four of diamonds is led at trick one? The result of this is that if East wins and does not return the suit (allowing South to discard and then discard again upon the established diamond honor) South will lose a trick in each suit outside of the trump suit and make only four-odd.
"Now let's see what happens if South plays low from dummy at trick one. It is going to take a pretty brave East to insert the nine and risk losing to a singleton ten in declarer's hand, or possibly a doubleton ten if West led from K 8 4 originally.
"Most East players will surely play the ace. This will enable South to make a routine loser-on-loser play in diamonds for the precious overtrick. (South runs the queen, discarding a club, and later discards a heart on the jack of diamond.)"
& copy;2004 Tribune Media Services
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