Neither vulnerable. South deals.

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK Q

uA J 8 5 3

vK Q 4

wA 10 5

WEST EAST

xJ 7 6 2 x9

uK Q 10 4 u9 6 2

v8 3 v7 6 5 2

w9 7 2 wK Q J 8 3

SOUTH

xA 10 8 5 4 3

u7

vA J 10 9

w6 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2u Pass

2x Pass 4NT Pass

5u Pass 5NT Pass

6w Pass 6x Pass

PassPass

Opening lead: King of u

Study the bidding and play of this deal and decide: Did anyone err? If so, who?

Against the opposing slam, West led the king of hearts. Declarer won with the ace and saw that, with a 3-2 spade break, he could claim 12 tricks. But just in case, he ruffed a heart at trick two, crossed to the queen of spades and ruffed another heart. A spade to the king brought the bad news that there was a trump loser. Declarer ruffed another heart and cashed the ace of spades and arrived at a most unusual position — with six tricks still to be played, the only trump still in the game was in a defender’s hand!

South crossed to the king of diamonds and led the jack of hearts. West ruffed, but no matter which minor suit he returned, declarer had the rest of the tricks.

What’s your verdict?

We can’t put any blame on South for his weak opening bid. Although he had only nine high-card points, the hand had great playing strength. But we can fault West for failing to beat the slam!

West must refuse to ruff the jack of hearts. Now when South starts to run the diamonds, West must hold off ruffing until the third diamond is played. Declarer then has no way of getting back to his hand to cash the ace of diamonds and must lose a club for down one.

2008 Tribune Media Services