North-South vulnerable. North deals.

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xJ 9 3

uA 10

vA 6 4 3 2

wA K J

WEST EAST

xA 10 8 5 x7

uJ 3 2 uK 9 8 6 5

vK 10 7 vQ J

w10 6 3 w9 8 5 4 2

SOUTH

xK Q 6 4 2

uQ 7 4

v9 8 5

wQ 7

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1NT 2w 2x Pass

3x Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of u

These days, many players consider that holding 13 cards is excuse enough to enter the auction. That can lead to competitive auctions, but it can also give away the distribution. On this deal, it presented declarer with a blueprint of the hand and South cashed in.

East’s two-club overcall of the strong no-trump opening showed hearts and a minor, and West attacked with the jack of hearts. Declarer took dummy’s ace and led a low spade to the king and ace. West reverted to a heart, East won with the king and switched to the queen of diamonds. Declarer allowed this to win and took the diamond continuation with the ace.

Declarer came to hand with the queen of clubs, led a spade and, judging from East’s overcall that West was likely to hold spade length, finessed the nine of spades and cashed the jack. The ace-king of clubs were cashed, declarer discarding a diamond from hand. South came to hand with a diamond ruff, drew the outstanding trump and claimed 10 tricks, leaving East to rue his intervention.

2008 Tribune Media Services