BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xQ J 5

u8 4 2

vK J 5 2

wA 8 2

WEST EAST

x6 3 2 x8 4

u10 9 uA K 7 5 3

v10 6 vQ 8 3

wQ J 9 7 4 3 w10 6 5

SOUTH

xA K 10 9 7

uQ J 6

vA 9 7 4

wK

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass 1u 1x

Pass 2u Pass 4x

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of u

Looking at all four hands, the winning line is easy to see. But what about when all you see is your hand and the dummy?

Sitting South and declaring was Eric Mayefsky of Palo Alto, Calif. He was practicing for the National Intercollegiate Championship held in Washington, D.C., at the end of July.

North’s two-heart cue-bid was an invitational spade raise and South had something in reserve for his raise to game.

West led the ten of hearts and the defense quickly banked two top hearts and a heart ruff. Obviously, the fate of the contract hinged on bringing in diamonds without losing a trick on the suit. Are there any clues?

Declarer won West’s club exit of the queen with the king, crossed to the table with the queen of trumps and cashed the ace of clubs for a diamond discard. Next came dummy’s last club, ruffed high in hand as East followed with the ten.

If that was a true card, East’s distribution was 2-5-3-3, making him a favorite to hold the queen of diamonds. In that case there was only one lie of the cards to allow the contract to succeed — West’s doubleton diamond had to include the ten. Declarer led a diamond to the king and continued with the jack — four spades bid and made!

2009 Tribune Media Services