Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 10 3

uA 9 4 2

v8

wA Q J 7 4

WEST EAST

xA Q 9 8 xK 5 4

uQ 8 6 3 uJ 7

v5 vK Q 10 7 6

w8 6 5 2 w10 9 3

SOUTH

x7 6 2

uK 10 5

vA J 9 4 3 2

wK

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 2w Pass

2v Dbl 2u Pass

3v Pass Pass Dbl

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

After a quiet start, Trump Coup Tommy experienced a run of hands loaded with what were for him favorable distributions. Here’s another example of his talent.

With a probable misfit, North might have been well advised, under normal circumstances, to pass West’s delayed takeout double, but club members who knew Tommy were circumspect about defending with Tommy as their partner. Had West gotten off to a spade lead, all would have been well for the defense, but West, for some reason best known to himself, elected to lead one of dummy’s suits. Tommy won in hand with the king, cashed the king of clubs, crossed to the ace of hearts and took two more rounds of clubs, discarding spades from hand as both defenders followed. When Tommy next led the jack of clubs, East was helpless. If he discarded, Tommy would get rid of his remaining spades, so he ruffed with the ten of trumps. Tommy countered by sluffing his remaining spade.

East exited with a spade. Tommy ruffed and got out with a heart. No matter what East did, Tommy could not be prevented from scoring the A J 9 of trumps to give him four trump tricks, three clubs and two hearts. Try it!

2009 Tribune Media Services