BRIDGE



North-South vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
x 10 8 7 4
u K Q J
v K J 9 5
w 6 4
WESTEAST
x J 9 6 3 2 x K 5
u Void u A 9 8 6 2
v 7 6 3 2 v Q 10 8
w 9 8 7 2 w K Q J
SOUTH
x A Q
u 10 7 5 4 3
v A 4
w A 10 5 3
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1x Dbl 2w 3w
Pass 3u Pass 4u
Dbl Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of u
East felt that Christmas had arrived early this year when North-South stretched a little in the auction to reach four hearts. However, his double alerted South to the lie of the cards and South played as if he was looking at all the cards.
East's opening bid showed either a club suit or a balanced hand of no more than 15 points. South's double is hardly textbook but, when West raised clubs, North cue-bid three clubs to show a fair hand. When South responded in hearts, North raised aggressively to game and East doubled, daring South to make it.
West led the nine of clubs to the jack, which was allowed to hold. East cashed the ace of hearts and continued with a trump to the queen as West discarded a card from each minor. A low spade to the queen held, and declarer continued by cashing the aces of spades, diamonds and clubs, then ruffed a club with the king of hearts.
Declarer led a spade from the table and, reluctant to discard a diamond guard, East ruffed with the nine of hearts. Declarer countered brilliantly by underruffing with the five!
East was a gone goose. If he returned a trump, declarer would score the two trumps, ten of clubs and king of diamonds. If East returned a diamond, dummy's jack and king would win, and any card from dummy would permit declarer to coup East's trumps. Making four hearts doubled.
X This column is written by Tannah Hirsch and Omar Sharif. For information about Charles Goren's newsletter for bridge players, call (800) 788-1225 or write Goren Bridge Letter, P.O. Box 4410, Chicago, Ill. 60680.
& copy; 2004, Tribune Media Services

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