North-South vulnerable and 60. South deals.

North-South vulnerable and 60. South deals.
NORTH
x A 10 9 8 4
u Void
v Q 10 6 4
w Q 7 6 3
WEST EAST
x K Q 7 6 3 x J 5 2
u K J 10 9 u Q 8 7 6 3
v 3 2 v A 8 5
w A 4 w 8 2
SOUTH
x Void
u A 5 4 2
v K J 9 7
w K J 10 9 5
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1w 1x Dbl Pass
2w 2u 3w 3u
4w Pass Pass 4u
Dbl Pass 5w Pass
Pass Dbl Pass Pass
Pass
Opening lead: Three of v
The mood at 221B Baker St. was quietly upbeat. The great detective and Dr. Watson had returned from winning a rubber bridge tournament at the club, defeating Holmes' archenemy, Professor Moriarty, in the final. Holmes was puffing away at his favorite Meerschaum as Watson pored over the score sheet.
On this deal, Holmes sat East and Moriarty was South, and the professor held a lead of 350 points. When Holmes sacrificed at four hearts over four clubs and Moriarty doubled, it seemed that evil would triumph since, with the lead of the ace of spades and another and a club back, Moriarty would get a second spade ruff and inflict a 300-point penalty for an almost insurmountable lead. But Moriarty's partner pulled the double to five clubs, and the outcome of the event hung on the play to the first trick.
Watson led the three of diamonds, Moriarty played the ten from dummy and Holmes let the professor win the trick. Moriarty led a trump to the king and ace. Watson led his remaining diamond to ace and a diamond back sealed Moriarty's fate.
"Amazing, Holmes," remarked Watson. "I led such a low diamond I feared you would play me for a singleton and take the ace immediately. How did you know I held another diamond?"
"Elementary, my dear Watson. I could see seven diamonds in my hand and dummy. Had your lead been a singleton, it meant Moriarty had a five-card diamond suit and he would surely have opened the bidding with one diamond rather than one club!"
As a footnote, it is now several weeks since the tournament. Professor Moriarty's partner has not been seen at the club or in any of his usual haunts. Some think he is somewhere in Europe. Others ...
& copy; 2005 Tribune Media Services
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