North-South vulnerable. North deals.

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xJ 5 4

u10 7 2

vQ 9 5 3

w7 5 4

WEST EAST

x10 9 7 3 2 xA K 6

u5 3 uK J 8 6 4

v8 6 4 vA J 10

wQ 6 2 wA 9

SOUTH

xQ 8

uA Q 9

vK 7 2

wK J 10 8 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass 1u 1NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of u

With only four boards played at the 2009 Bermuda Bowl, USA 1 trailed USA 2 by 28 imps. Board 5 did not improve matters for USA 1.

With a balanced 20 points, East chose to open one in his five-card major. South overcalled one no trump and that ended the auction. West led a heart, taken in the closed hand, and declarer tried the king of clubs, losing to the ace. To cut a long story short, the defenders took one diamond trick and two tricks in each other suit for 100 points to East-West.

In the other room, East chose the eminently sensible opening bid of two no trump, West transferred into spades and East became the declarer at four spades. South chose to make the deceptive lead of the eight of spades — not a spectacular success. Declarer covered with the ten and, in an attempt to deny declarer an entry later, North ducked, as did declarer. A heart to the jack lost to the queen and South exited safely with the queen of spades. Declarer won and tried the king of hearts, losing to the ace. The heart return was ruffed in dummy, setting up the two long hearts. Declarer continued with a diamond to the jack, South winning with the king.

South exited with a diamond, taken by declarer, who drew the last trump and discarded two clubs from dummy on the hearts and claimed his contract. The USA 2 lead was up to 36 imps.

2009 Tribune Media Services