East-West vulnerable. South deals.

East-West vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 9 5 4

uA 8 7 6 4

vVoid

wK Q 7 4

WEST EAST

xK 10 6 2 xQ 8 3

uK J 10 5 3 u9

v10 9 8 vQ J 7 6 5 2

w6 w5 3 2

SOUTH

xA 7

uQ 2

vA K 4 3

wA J 10 9 8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1u Pass

2v Pass 3w Pass

3NT Pass 4v Pass

4x Pass 6w Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: ?

For the next few weeks, we will be running deals from the Summer North American Championship, played recently in Las Vegas.

There will be good hands, bad hands and some horrors. This defensive gem appealed to us. Sitting East-West were Steve Nellison of Ramsey, N.J., and Victor Hsu of Waldwick, N.J.

With the three other suits bid naturally, Hsu logically elected to lead a spade. However, he elected to lead the king — a low spade would have made declarer’s life easy.

Declarer won in hand with the ace, ruffed two diamonds on the table while drawing trump in three rounds and cashing two diamonds, bringing about this position:

xJ 9 5

uA 8

--

w --

x10 6 2xQ 8

uK J u9

v -- w --

x 7

uQ 2

v --

wA J

Declarer now exited with a spade and, when West followed low, called for dummy’s jack, and East won the trick with the queen.

All would still have been well for declarer had East returned a spade, or a diamond, since South would have ruffed and then squeezed West by cashing his last trump.

But East exited with his singleton heart, and there was no way declarer could score a 12th trick. Try it.

2008 Tribune Media Services