Neither vulnerable. East deals.

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xVoid

uK J 9 6 3 2

v10

wK J 10 9 6 3

WEST EAST

x10 xA K 8 6 5 4 3 2

u10 5 u8 4

vA K Q J 8 6 4 2 v9 7 3

wQ 7 wVoid

SOUTH

xQ J 9 7

uA Q 7

v5

wA 8 5 4 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1x 2w 2v 2x

4x Pass Pass 5w

5x Dbl Pass 6w

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of v

On distributional hands, it is not uncommon to find that both North-South and East-West can make a game. It is much rarer for a team to score a slam in both directions. This deal is from a National Swiss Teams Championship.

At the table where this competitive auction occurred, there was little to the play. West led the ace of diamonds, and that was the first and last trick for the defense.

This was the bidding at the other table:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

4x Pass 4NT Pass

6v Pass Pass Pass

The preemptive four-spade opening bid had more going for it, and here it kept the opponents out of the auction. West’s four no trump was not designed to find out whether slam was a viable contract. Since a preempt denies possession of two aces, West knew there was no slam and, since it was quite possible that the hand belonged to the opponents, West chose the bid to give an impression of strength, intending to pass the likely response of five diamonds. But East responded six diamonds, showing an ace and a void in the partnership methods, and that became the final contract.

Since it was known that West held a void somewhere, our choice of opening lead would have been the ace in the shorter suit — hearts. But that would have ruined a great bridge tale. South opened the ace of clubs, and the roof fell in. Declarer ruffed in hand, crossed to the ace of diamonds, drawing both outstanding trumps in the process, and ruffed dummy’s remaining club. A heart was discarded on a high spade and declarer cheerfully conceded a heart and claimed 12 tricks.

2008 Tribune Media Services