North-South vulnerable. West deals.

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA Q 10 6 3 2

u9 8 5 2

v9 4

w8

WEST EAST

xJ 9 8 4 x5

uK 3 u7 6

vVoid vA Q J 8 7 5 3

wA K J 10 7 5 4 w9 6 2

SOUTH

xK 7

uA Q J 10 4

vK 10 6 2

wQ 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w Pass 3v 3u

4w 4u 5w 5u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of w

There is a lot to be learned from the play of the cards. Declarer drew the right inference and found the winning line.

For those playing a modern style, the North hand qualifies for a weak jump overcall. As it was, North-South found their 5-4 heart fit and bought the contract at the five-level.

West led the king of clubs and continued with the ace, ruffed in dummy as East furnished the deuce and then the nine. The nine of trumps was run to the king and a trump was returned to declarer’s ten, East following.

There is one key inference — West’s failure to lead a diamond at trick one or to shift to a diamond at trick two almost surely indicated a void in the suit. Next, East’s bidding and play in clubs suggested three-card support for partner’s suit.

West’s distribution almost surely was 4-2-0-7, and declarer was quick to take advantage of this information. Declarer cashed the king of spades and continued with a spade, finessing the ten. When East showed out, declarer could claim the rest of the tricks to fulfill his contract.

2008 Tribune Media Services