Neither vulnerable. North deals.

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA J 9 8 6 2

uQ 4

vK 8 6 3

wJ

WEST EAST

x10 x4

u9 8 6 uJ 7 3 2

v10 9 vA J 7 4 2

wA K Q 8 4 3 2 w10 6 5

SOUTH

xK Q 7 5 3

uA K 10 5

vQ 5

w9 7

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

2x Pass 2NT 3w

3v 4w4u 5w

Pass Pass 5u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of w

We have always maintained that no average player can match the mistakes of experts. This deal is from a World Team Championship match between France and Italy.

The French played in a spade game and made 11 tricks. Here, the Italian North opened with a weak two-bid and South’s two no trump was forcing. North’s three diamonds was natural and over four clubs South cue-bid four hearts. (Why South was looking for slam on a hand where there could be four minor-suit losers is a mystery to us.) West sacrificed at five clubs but South, still looking for slam, cue-bid five hearts. North took this to be natural, showing a long heart suit and, expecting his doubleton queen of hearts to be adequate support, passed!

West led the club king and, with a singleton in dummy, East played the five — a suit preference signal for diamonds, and West duly shifted to the ten. With the aid of a finesse for the jack of hearts 11 tricks could be made, but East knew how to take care of that. He overtook the ten with the ace and shifted to a club. Declarer was forced to ruff in dummy and East’s jack was promoted to the setting trick!

2008 Tribune Media Services