BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
x -4 3
u -A K J 2
v -K 10 8
w -7 6 5 2
WEST EAST
x -Q J 9 2 x -A K 10 8 7 6
u -Q 9 5 u -10 7 4 3
v -J 7 v -9 4
w -K J 4 3 w -Q
SOUTH
x -5
u -8 6
v -A Q 6 5 3 2
w -A 10 9 8
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1w 1x 2v 3x
Pass 4x 5w Dbl
5v Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of x
Is it worth doubling an opposing game for an extra 50 points? Perhaps, if it does no damage. But here it allowed North-South to escape into a contract that could not be defeated, thanks to a lucky lie of the cards and some superb declarer play on this deal from the Vanderbilt Team Championship.
West's jump to three spades was preemptive and North's pass showed a minimum opening bid. When East raised to four spades, South competed with five clubs. West doubled, an unusual action from one who had previously preempted, North decided it had to be made with a trump stack and, since South might be expecting a better club suit, North corrected to five diamonds, which became the final contract.
Sitting South was Norwegian star Boye Brogeland. East overtook the queen of spades and found the best defense of shifting to the queen of clubs. Brogeland won with the ace, cashed the ace and king of diamonds to draw the outstanding trumps, then ruffed dummy's remaining spade in hand. When a heart to the jack won, the contract was all but certain. South cashed the ace and king of hearts, discarding a club, and continued with the deuce of hearts. East produced the ten, and declarer sluffed a club from hand. Down to nothing but spades, East was forced to return that suit. Declarer discarded his remaining club while ruffing in dummy, and scored the rest of the tricks with trumps. Amazingly, declarer lost no club trick, just a trick in each major.
& copy;2004 Tribune Media Services