East-West vulnerable. East deals.

East-West vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
A 8 6
A K Q 5 4
Q 7 5
8 3
WEST EAST
Q 10 5 3 4
J 10 9 6 2
8 6 4 2 J 10 3
5 4 A K Q 10 7 6 2
SOUTH
K J 9 7 2
8 7 3
A K 9
J 9
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1 1 Pass 2
3 Pass Pass 3
Pass 4 Pass Pass
Pass
Opening lead: Five of
If this hand were played at rubber bridge, a good declarer would land his contract in three shakes of a dog's tail. But what if the deal cropped up at duplicate pairs?
At unfavorable vulnerability, we would prefer a gambling three no trump or a three-club pre-empt to a one-club opening. South overcalled one spade and, after West's pass, North forced with a club cue-bid and, after East rebid three clubs, South passed to let North describe his hand further. When North showed spade support, South continued to game.
West led a club and East took two tricks in the suit before shifting to the jack of diamonds. To make his contract, declarer had to hold his trump losers to one and there is an easy safety play to guarantee four tricks in the suit. Declarer won the diamond shift, cashed the king of trumps and continued with a low spade. When West followed with the six, declarer inserted the eight and when East showed out, cashed the ace of spades, returned to hand with the jack hearts, conceded a trump and claimed.
Should declarer play the same way at duplicate pairs? Probably. Although the probable spade break is 3-2 and the best chance to bring in the suit without loss for an overtrick is via a trump finesse, the rubber bridge line does not give up the overtrick -- you might pick up a doubleton queen with West. And in addition it guarantees the contract if spades are 4-1.
& copy; 2007 Tribune Media Services
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.