North-South vulnerable. East deals.

North-South vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xK J 9 2

uQ J 7 5

vJ 7

wQ J 6

WEST EAST

x10 8 7 5 3 xA Q 4

u9 2 u6 4

v10 9 8 5 vA K 6 4

w8 4 wK 10 9 7

SOUTH

x6

uA K 10 8 3

vQ 3 2

wA 5 3 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1w 1u Pass 3u

Pass 4u Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Eight of w

The language of the defenders is the cards they play. Ignore them at your own risk.

East-West were playing a forcing club system, so East’s opening bid promised 16 plus points and any distribution. The rest of the auction was natural although South, knowing his side had a combined count of only 24, made an aggressive raise to game.

West led the eight of clubs, covered by the queen and king and taken with the ace. With two diamonds and a spade as sure losers, the problem was to avoid losing two clubs. A successful finesse for the ten of spades would not help, since that would lead to only one spade on which declarer could discard a loser.

Declarer decided that a bit of deception was called for. He crossed to dummy with a trump and led a low spade. East won with the queen as West followed with the three. The defender cashed the king of diamonds and led a club, taken with the jack. Declarer now led the nine of spades and East, afraid declarer had started with doubleton ten of spades, rose with the ace. Declarer ruffed, drew the remaining trumps ending in dummy, discarded two clubs on the king-jack of spades and claimed his contract.

Should the defenders have avoided this debacle? Yes — East made an egregious error. West’s play of the three of spades to the first spade trick, the lowest outstanding spade, showed an odd number of cards in the suit. Whether declarer started with one spade or three, rising with the ace of spades could cost a trick. East should simply have followed with the four and the contract must fail.

2008 Tribune Media Services