Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Neither vulnerable. East deals.
NORTH
xA J 8 7 4
uK Q 7 6
v8 4
wK Q
WEST EAST
xK 9 2 xQ 10 5
uA J 10 5 4 u8 2
v9 6 vA 10 3
w9 8 6 wA J 10 7 2
SOUTH
x6 3
u9 3
vK Q J 7 5 2
w5 4 3
The bidding:
EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH
1w 2v 2u 3v
Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Nine of v
More and more, the ACBL North American Championships are becoming major international events. The Fall tournament in Boston was no exception, with players from all the continents. Sitting East-West on this deal from the Victor Mitchell Board-a-Match Teams were Tommy Garvey of Ireland and David Bakhski of England.
Over East’s opening bid South made a weak jump overcall in diamonds. West bid his hearts and North bravely raised his partner’s diamonds with a doubleton, ending the auction.
West led the nine of diamonds, ducked to declarer’s king. Declarer led the nine of hearts, covered with the ten and won in dummy. A spade from the table was taken by East’s ten and the defender made the fine shift to a club to dummy’s queen.
Declarer continued by cashing the ace of spades and ruffing a spade to set up the suit. A heart was led, but West shot up with the ace, led a trump to his partner’s ace and East was able to cash two club tricks for a one-trick set.
2009 Tribune Media Services