Both vulnerable. North deals.

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x10 6 5

uK 6 3

vA 7 3 2

w9 6 3

WESTEAST

xK 2x9 4

uA Q J 8 4u10 7 5 2

v10 6 5vK J 9 4

w10 4 2wK 8 5

SOUTH

xA Q J 8 7 3

u9

vQ 8

wA Q J 7

The bidding:

NORTHEASTSOUTHWEST

Pass Pass 1x2u

2x3u4xPass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of u

We have remarked before about the importance of entries. Here’s another case in point.

Note South’s rebid. Since a bid of three spades in this position would simply be competitive, South showed extra values by jumping to game. Had North’s king of hearts been in any other suit, four spades would have been a good contract.

West led the ace of hearts and continued with the queen. Declarer, Dorthy Francis of Memphis, Tenn., discarded a diamond as dummy’s king won. She continued with the ten of spades, running it to the king as she carefully followed with the seven from hand. West reverted to hearts, declarer ruffing with the eight.

The ace of spades was cashed and the nine was a welcome sight. The carefully preserved three of trumps was led to the six and the jack of clubs was finessed successfully. South returned to the table with the ace of diamonds to repeat the club finesse, then cashed the ace. When the suit broke evenly, the seven of clubs was the 11th trick. Since the deal is from a national pairs event, the overtrick produced a near top score — some pairs stayed out of game and others failed to make the overtrick.

2008 Tribune Media Services