Both vulnerable. South deals.
Both vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
6 5 2
K 7 2
9 5 4 2
A 6 2
WEST EAST
Q 10 9 8 4
10 8 5 4 9 6 3
Q J 8 K 10 7 6 3
J 10 7 5 3 9
SOUTH
A K J 7 3
A Q J
A
K Q 8 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2 Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 3 Pass
4NT Pass 5 Pass
5NT Pass 6 Pass
6 Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Queen of
Many hands depend on the ability to cross from one hand to the other. Entries are a valuable commodity, and they must be used with care.
When South showed a spade suit after a game-forcing two clubs and a waiting response, North correctly showed a positive response with at least three-card spade support. South launched into Blackwood and settled in the small slam on learning there was a king missing.
West led the queen of diamonds, taken by declarer's ace. The king of spades was cashed, felling the queen and confirming that declarer had to lose a trump trick. The fate of the contract hinged on declarer avoiding a club loser as well. Dummy had just enough entries for this as long as they were used at the right time.
At trick three South crossed to the ace of clubs and led a club from dummy. East did not want to waste his trump trick on air, so he discarded a heart. Declarer won in hand, led a heart to the king and played another club. East discarded another heart, so declarer won with the queen, led his losing club and trumped it on the table. East could either score a trump by ruffing or power, but one spade is all the defense could get.
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. Send e-mail to gorenbridge@aol.com.
& copy; 2006, Tribune Media Services
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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