BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
x 8 7 5
u K Q 8 6
v A Q 4
w A K 9
WEST EAST
x J 3 2 x 10 9 6
u J 7 5 2 u 4 3
v J 9 6 2 v K 10 8 7 3
w 10 3 w Q 7 6
SOUTH
x A K Q 4
u A 10 9
v 5
w J 8 5 4 2
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
2v Dbl 4v 4NT
Pass 5u Pass 6u
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Two of v
At tournament bridge these days, if someone bids at favorable vulnerability, it simply means that it was his turn to bid. But it can backfire by driving opponents to a contract they might not reach under their own steam and letting them find a way to make it.
Two diamonds was weak (very) and four diamonds was pre-emptive (also very). North's four no trump was ace-asking and as a result South became declarer at an iffy heart slam. (Six clubs depended on little more than a good trump break.)
West led deuce of diamonds. Declarer, Norwegian star Geir Helgemo, rose with the ace of diamonds and ruffed a diamond in hand. He crossed to the king of clubs and trumped the queen of diamonds, then cashed the ace of hearts.
South returned to the table with the king of clubs and cleared the king and queen of hearts, East discarding a diamond. The 4-2 break did not disturb Helgemo -- his slam was home as long as West held at least three spades.
The ace, king and queen of spades were cashed, everyone following. With the first 11 tricks in the bank, South now led a spade. If West ruffed, the eight of trumps would be the fulfilling trick. If West discarded, the eight of trumps would score en passant. If spades were 4-2 and West had the spade length, declarer would score the eight of trumps by ruffing the spade.
& copy;2006 Tribune Media Services