North-South vulnerable. South deals.

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 7

uA 10 6 4 3

v3 2

wK 8 6 2

WEST EAST

xJ 9 6 3 x10 8 5 4

uQ J 2 uK 8 7 5

vK 9 8 5 4 vJ 10

w4 wJ 10 7

SOUTH

xA Q 2

u9

vA Q 7 6

wA Q 9 5 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1u Pass

2v Pass 3w Pass

3x Pass 4x Pass

6w Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of x

We continue with deals from the recent ACBL Fall North American Championships held in Boston. Barry Rigal reported this deal from the finals of the Robert Nail Life Master Open Pairs.

In pairs competition, overtricks are crucial, except in one case. If you are in a slam contract, making your contract is of prime importance. Why? Even at the top level of competition some pairs might not reach slam, or might choose the wrong slam, while others might be defeated striving for an unmakable overtrick. Sitting South was Alex Ornstein of Roslyn Heights, N.Y.

South chose to describe his hand with a reverse bid on the second round and North’s preference was game forcing. Two spade cue-bids quickly led to the club slam.

West led a spade, won in the closed hand. Declarer crossed to the ace of hearts and ruffed a heart. The ace of clubs was followed by a club to the king, another heart was trumped and the queen of clubs pulled the last trump. Declarer crossed to the king of spades, surrendered a heart trick and claimed 12 tricks.

How good was his score? Believe it or not, making just 12 tricks scored 83 of a possible 91 match points!

2009 Tribune Media Services