North-South vulnerable. North deals.

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA 10 7

uQ J 10 5 4

vK 6 3

w5 4

WEST EAST

xJ 5 3 x4 2

u7 3 2 uK 9 6

vJ 10 8 4 vA 7 5 2

wA Q 7 wJ 10 6 3

SOUTH

xK Q 9 8 6

uA 8

vQ 9

wK 9 8 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass Pass 1x Pass

2w Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of v

Sometimes you have to take chances if you want to bring home your contract. How would you tackle four spades after the lead of the jack of diamonds?

North’s two-club response to the major-suit opening bid was the Drury Convention, asking about the strength of South’s third-seat opener. South’s jump to game promised a full opening bid.

West led the jack of diamonds and declarer saw he was in an ambitious contract. Since the heart finesse would have to succeed if there was any chance, South elected to try for a dummy reversal. However, that would need three entries to dummy. Where were they coming from?

The play of the hand did not take long. The opening lead ran round to South’s queen and the nine of diamonds was returned, covered by the ten and ducked on the table. West continued with a diamond to the king and ace and ruffed with the queen in hand.

Next, declarer led the six of spades and, when West followed low, the seven was finessed. When that held, the queen of hearts was run successfully and declarer cleared the ace of hearts.

The eight of spades was led and West was helpless. He tried by inserting the knave, but declarer won with the ace and led a heart, fetching the king. Declarer ruffed with the king of spades, crossed back to the table with the ten of trumps and cashed two hearts for 10 tricks — three spades, four hearts, two ruffs in hand and a diamond.

Don’t bother to write us that West could beat the contract by rising with the jack on the first trump lead. He would not look pretty on a slightly different layout that includes a doubleton queen of spades with East!

A happy and peaceful holiday season to all our readers!

2008 Tribune Media Services