North-South vulnerable. East deals.

North-South vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xJ 6 2

uQ 8 7 6 5

vK 7 6

wA 3

WEST EAST

x3 xK 10 8

uA 9 2 uJ 4 3

vJ 10 8 5 3 2 vA Q 9

wK Q 5 w10 7 6 4

SOUTH

xA Q 9 7 5 4

uK 10

v4

wJ 9 8 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass 2x Dbl 3w

Pass 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Jack of v

Sometimes it is easy to draw a winning inference from seeing dummy and taking the bidding into account. At other times it is not as easy to spot. Consider this deal from the Silidor Open Pairs at the recent Spring North American Championships in Detroit.

By agreement, North’s three clubs after West’s takeout double over South’s weak two-spade opening bid showed spade support and club values. Expecting a double fit, South, Mark Itabashi of Murrieta, Calif., elected to bid game in spades.

West’s jack of diamonds was ducked all around, and the diamond continuation was ruffed by declarer. The king of hearts was led and taken by West’s ace. In an effort to kill dummy, West shifted to the king of clubs. Declarer won on the table and returned the three, finessing the eight and losing to the queen. West reverted to diamonds, declarer ruffing.

It was time to play trumps. West had made a takeout double with minimal strength and a long minor. Declarer decided that West had to have distributional values — probably spade shortage. Accordingly, declarer ruffed a club in dummy and led the jack of spades, covered by the king and taken with the ace. Declarer returned to dummy with a heart to the queen, led the remaining spade and, when East followed low, finessed the nine — four spades bid and made!

2008 Tribune Media Services