BRIDGE



Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x A Q 8 5 4 3
u A K J 10 8
v J
w 2
WEST EAST
x 10 7 2 x J 9
u Void u 9 7 5 4
v A Q 7 6 4 3 v 9 8 2
w J 10 7 5 w K 8 4 3
SOUTH
x K 6
u Q 6 3 2
v K 10 5
w A Q 9 6
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w Pass 1x Pass
2u Pass 4NT Pass
5v Pass 6u Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of x
This deal is from an international bridge festival. The event was the Open Pairs where overtricks are gold. South had represented his country in several world championships. Unbeknownst to South, East and West were relative newcomers.
At his second turn South elected to bid hearts to deflect a lead in that suit at a no-trump contract. To his astonishment, he found himself declaring six hearts a couple of seconds later.
West led the ten spades, East covered with the jack and declarer won with the king. A heart to the king revealed the 4-0 break, but that did not faze South. Trumps were drawn in four rounds ending in the closed hand and a spade was led. Although 12 tricks are easy, South decided to play for the overtrick. Since the play to the first trick had "marked" West with 10 9 7 2 in spades, declarer continued with the six of spades, finessing the eight when West followed low. East won with the nine and led a diamond to partner's ace for down one -- the only East-West pair to finish with a plus score on the deal.
"I led top of nothing, partner," remarked West.
"You were right," observed East. "And I started an echo with the jack to show a doubleton!"
An expert's life can be terribly hard.
XThis 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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