BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
x 6
u A K 9 8 5
v 10 8 6 5
w Q 7 6
WEST EAST
x Q 10 7 3 x 9 5 4
u J u Q 10 6 4 3
v 9 4 v K J 7 3 2
w K 10 5 4 3 2 w Void
SOUTH
x A K J 8 2
u 7 2
v A Q
w A J 9 8
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 1NT Pass
3w Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Dbl 4w Pass
5w Dbl Pass Pass
Pass
Opening lead: Two of w
Here's another deal from a team match at the Spring North American Bridge Championships in Dallas. For some reason North, who contracted for three no trump, developed cold feet when West made a speculative double. That got declarer into hot water, but excellent technique landed the doubled game.
Facing a partner who makes a jump shift, it would seem that redouble by North would have been better than four clubs. Expecting four-card support, South continued to game and West felt on firmer ground when he doubled five clubs.
South, Barbara Heller of Atlanta, Ga., won the opening lead in hand with the eight as East discarded a diamond. Unflustered by the 6-0 trump split, declarer went about her business. She led a heart to the ace, cashed the ace and king of spades and ruffed a spade. A diamond to the queen held, the ace of diamonds was cashed (a key play) and another spade was ruffed on the board with the last trump.
Eight tricks had been played, all won by declarer, and the lead was in dummy West was down to five trumps while declarer held A J 9 of trumps and two plain-suit cards. Declarer could lead any card from dummy and play a plain suit from hand. West was forced to ruff and lead a club up to declarer's tenace. Declarer won with the nine and exited with her remaining plain-suit card. Again, West had to ruff and lead a trump into South's tenace, and declarer lost only two trump tricks!
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; 2006, Tribune Media Services
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