North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 7 2

u10 7

vA Q J 6 2

wK Q 8

WEST EAST

xQ 9 8 xA 5

uK Q 9 8 uJ 6 5 4 2

v9 8 4 3 v10 7

w6 2 wJ 10 9 5

SOUTH

xJ 10 6 4 3

uA 3

vK 5

wA 7 4 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2v Pass

2NT Pass 3x Pass

4x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

Undertricks and overtricks are the currency of duplicate pairs. Consider this deal from a national pairs event some years ago.

The auction has some interest. With such a shabby major suit, South correctly chose to rebid two no trump rather than two spades. When North showed three-card spade support, however, South wisely elected to play in the suit contract.

West led the king of hearts, and declarer decided to try to get rid of his heart loser on dummy’s diamonds. He won the opening lead in hand, cashed the king of diamonds and crossed to the ace to lead the queen of diamonds. East ruffed with the five, declarer overruffed with the six and returned to dummy with a high club to continue with the jack of diamonds, this time East discarding a heart.

South paused to consider the play. Why had East refused to ruff the fourth diamond? It could only be because either East was out of trumps or his remaining trump was the ace! Suiting the deed to the reasoning, declarer continued with low spade from the table, fetching the ace.

Declarer ruffed the heart return, ran the jack of spades to pick up the queen and scored two overtricks for a clear top.

Could the defense have done better? Yes. East must either refuse to ruff any diamond or ruff with ace. Either way, the defenders must win two trump tricks.

2009 Tribune Media Services