North-South vulnerable. West deals.

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA Q 10 8

u8 5 4

vK Q 5 4 3

w10

WEST EAST

xK 4 3 xJ 9 7

uA Q J u7 2

vJ 7 6 vA 10 9 8 2

wA 5 4 2 w7 6 3

SOUTH

x6 5 2

uK 10 9 6 3

vVoid

wK Q J 9 8

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1NT Pass Pass 2u

Pass 4u Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Three of x

It is unusual to reach a game after one of your opponents has opened with a strong no trump. South accomplished that feat and made 10 tricks without winning a single trick in one of the suits. Which one?

South’s balancing bid of two hearts promised hearts and a minor, and North’s leap to game was a reasonable shot. We admire West for his restraint in not doubling.

West led a low spade, won by dummy’s queen. The ten of clubs was overtaken with the jack, losing to the ace. West reverted to a spade, taken with the ace. The king of diamonds was led, covered by the ace and ruffed in hand. Declarer could now place every missing high card with West, so it seemed that the defenders would surely collect three heart tricks.

South refused to surrender. A club winner was ruffed in dummy and the queen of diamonds took care of declarer’s spade loser. A spade ruff in hand was followed by another club ruff in dummy. Declarer came to hand with a diamond ruff and ruffed another club with the nine of hearts as West followed helplessly.

Each player was now down to three cards. West held his three hearts and declarer was down to K 10 of hearts and K of clubs. Declarer led the table’s remaining diamond and pitched the king of clubs from hand. West was forced to ruff and yield the fulfilling trick to South’s king of hearts.

So, holding five clubs in hand missing only the ace, South collected nary a club trick!

2009 Tribune Media Services