Neither vulnerable. South deals.

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA Q 5

uK 7 5 2

vK J 10 4

wQ 5

WEST EAST

x10 8 xJ 9 7 4 3 2

uQ 10 8 u9

v9 7 3 2 v8 6

wJ 10 9 4 wK 8 7 2

SOUTH

xK 6

uA J 6 4 3

vA Q 5

wA 6 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 2NT Pass

3uPass 3x Pass

4NT Pass 5u Pass

6u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of w

Study the bidding and play of this deal and decide: Was the result normal? If not, who erred and why?

North’s two no trump was a forcing raise in hearts. When North next cue-bid spades, South used key-card Blackwood, where the king of trumps counts as a fifth ace, to learn that North held two “aces” but not the queen of trumps, and settled in six hearts.

West’s lead of the jack of clubs attacked the weak underbelly of the contract. Dummy’s queen was covered by the king and ace. Declarer cashed the ace and king of hearts and, when the queen did not drop, South had to take care of his club loser. He cashed three high spades, discarding a club from hand. Unfortunately, West ruffed the third spade and cashed a club — down one. What’s your verdict?

Give declarer a charge! To get rid of a second club, South had to find West with at least three diamonds. Therefore, after cashing the ace-king of hearts, declarer must first play on diamonds. If diamonds are 3-3, declarer then tries the spades. As the cards lie, declarer learns that West has four diamonds, so declarer cashes the table’s remaining diamond, discarding a club, and then plays on spades, discarding his last club as West ruffs for the only trick for the defense.

2009 Tribune Media Services