BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK Q 10 9 4 3 2

u10

vVoid

wA K 10 4 3

WEST EAST

xJ 8 7xA 6 5

u5 2uA 9 4 3

vA Q J 10 6 4v8 7 2

w7 2wJ 9 8

SOUTH

xVoid

uK Q J 8 7 6

vK 9 5 3

wQ 6 5

The bidding:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

1u2vDbl3v

3uPass3xPass

4wPass6wPass

PassPass

Opening lead: ?

This is another deal from the recent ACBL Spring North American Championships in Houston.

We would have made a weak jump overcall with the West hand. As it was, North made a negative double of two diamonds (for takeout, not penalties).

South, Preston Morrow of Dallas, Texas had a difficult bid to make over three spades and chose to show the club fragment. By the time the auction got back to him, he was in a club slam!

West elected to lead the ace of diamonds, ruffed in dummy. The king of spades was covered by the ace and ruffed.

Dummy’s heart was discarded on the king of diamonds, and the king of hearts was led, East winning with the ace as declarer shed a spade from the table.

All that was left to do was ruff a spade in hand and dummy was high.

By a process of elimination, we can make the case for a trump lead.

North is unlikely to jump to slam with a diamond loser, and certainly a major suit lead is unappetizing and unlikely to help your cause.

On gaining the lead with the ace of hearts the defense can play a second trump, and there is no way for South to collect 12 tricks. Try it.

2009 Tribune Media Services