Both vulnerable. South deals.
Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x K Q 7
u K Q 5 3 2
v K 8
w K 9 8
WEST EAST
x 10 9 4 x 8 6 5 3
u 9 4 u 7
v Q 9 7 6 4 v A J 5 2
w A J 6 w 7 5 3 2
SOUTH
x A J 2
u A J 10 8 6
v 10 3
w Q 10 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1u Pass 3u Pass
4u Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ten of x
One glance at the above diagram is sufficient to reveal declarer's problem. With no loser in the majors, declarer must limit his losses to either two diamonds and a club, or two clubs and a diamond. How would you play the hand?
North's jump raise of opener's suit was forcing. South had a dead minimum and signed off in four hearts. A more modern treatment would be for North to jump to two no trump as a forcing major-suit raise and South would jump to game in hearts, the principle of fast arrival, to show a balanced minimum.
West led the ten of spades, and when dummy came down declarer could claim the contract regardless of the lie of the defenders' cards. Declarer won the opening lead in dummy and drew trumps in two rounds. Next, the spades were cleared, ending in hand, and South led a diamond to the king.
If West held the ace, the contract was assured and declarer would be playing for an overtrick. Unfortunately, the king lost to the ace, but the contract was still secure. East could exit with a diamond, but whichever defender won the trick would be endplayed. A spade or diamond continuation would allow declarer to ruff in one hand while discarding a club loser from the other, while a club would give declarer a free finesse for the jack in the suit, limiting declarer to losing one club trick. Try it.
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; 2005, Tribune Media Services
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