Neither vulnerable. South deals.

Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
7 6 4 3
K J 8 3
A 9 6 5
5
WEST EAST
Q 8 2 9
7 4 A 10 6 5
3 2 K 8 7 4
J 10 8 7 4 2 A K 6 3
SOUTH
A K J 10 5
Q 9 2
Q J 10
Q 9
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1NT Pass 2 Pass
2 Pass 3 Pass
3NT Pass 4 Dbl
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Seven of
The International Bridge Press Association's Best Junior Hand of the Year was awarded to Joe Grue of the United States for this deal against Canada from a qualifying round of the World Team Championship.
We're not sure of the meaning of North's bid of three clubs. It would appear North meant it as shortness, but South didn't understand that. Apparently neither did East for he made what appeared to be a lead-directing double, but West did not read it that way.
In the other room, Canada went one down in the same contract, losing a trick in each suit. Here, West led the seven of hearts, ducked round to South's nine. After some thought, declarer concluded that, had East held the queen of spades, he would have been reluctant to double for fear of compromising his trump holding so, at trick two, declarer led the jack of trumps from hand!
Had West covered with the queen, the contract could have been defeated two tricks, since West could have obtained a heart ruff. Not surprisingly, however, it never dawned on him that South might be leading the jack from 100 honors, so he played low. Declarer cashed the ace and king of spades and cheerfully conceded a trick in each side suit and landed the doubled contract.
& copy;2006, Tribune Media Services
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