North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 6 5

uA K

vJ 9 8 7 6

w10 3 2

WEST EAST

x10 9 8 2 xK 7 4

u10 9 u8 7 6 5 3 2

vQ 10 vA 3

wA 9 6 5 4 wJ 7

SOUTH

xA Q 3

uQ J 4

vK 5 4 2

wK Q 8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 3v Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of w

“How would you rate the stars of yesteryear compared to today’s players?” writes a reader. When it comes to the play of the cards, they more than hold their own. But bidding has made such great strides that they would be unlikely to reach the final in any of the many major team events played each year.

Jean Besse, who made his name playing for France before he moved to Switzerland, where he became the key element in a powerful squad, was one of the great technicians of his day. He sat East on this deal from a world championship knockout team event.

North-South were using weak no-trump opening bids, hence South’s one-diamond opener. North’s jump raise in diamonds was invitational, and South had a comfortable raise to game.

West led a low club, covered by the ten and jack and ducked by declarer. Besse returned a club, West captured South’s queen with the ace and continued with a third club, on which Besse found the only discard to sink the contract — he sluffed the ace of diamonds!

There was no way for declarer to come to nine tricks without at least two diamond tricks. However, West’s queen of diamonds was a sure entry and two more club tricks gave the defenders five tricks.

2009 Tribune Media Services