North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10 8

u6 4 3

v9 7 5 2

w8 6 4 3

WEST EAST

x9 7 6 x4 2

u9 8 5 2 uK 10 7

vK Q 4 vJ 10 6

wQ J 10 wA K 9 7 2

SOUTH

xA K Q J 5 3

uA Q J

vA 8 3

w5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2v Pass

2x Pass 3w Dbl

4S Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of w

Usually, the last thing an expert wants to do is rely on a finesse for his contract — that nullifies his skill and forces him to rely on luck. But once in a while there is no alternative.

South’s two clubs was an artificial game force and two diamonds was a waiting bid. After South showed his suit three clubs was negative. East made a lead-directing double and South, who needed no more than a doubleton diamond in partner’s hand to score 10 tricks, closed the auction by bidding four spades.

West led the queen of clubs and continued with the jack. There was just one chance for the game — East had to hold the king of hearts. However, one finesse was unlikely to be enough — missing seven cards in the suit, finding East with a doubleton king was vastly against the odds. But there was a possible second entry to the table!

Declarer ruffed the club continuation with the jack, led a low trump and finessed the eight! When that held, it was a simple matter to take a heart finesse, cross back to the board with the ten of trumps and repeat the heart finesse. Four spades bid and made. Isn’t bridge an easy game!

2008 Tribune Media Services