BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xJ 9 5

u7 3 2

vK Q 7 5 4 3

w4

WEST EAST

x7 6 4 2 x8 3

u8 6 u10 4

v8 vA J 10 9 6

wK J 10 9 8 5 wQ 6 3 2

SOUTH

xA K Q 10

uA K Q J 9 5

v2

wA 7

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

2v Pass 2u Pass

3u Pass 3x Pass

4u Pass 6u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Eight of v

Here is another deal from the finals of the Collegiate Championship. Over the weak two-diamond opening, two hearts was natural and forcing. When North raised to four hearts over the three-spade rebid, South knew his partner held three-card support and bid a confident slam. He lost only one diamond trick.

In the other room, South inquired about his partner’s two-diamond opening with two no trump. North bid three clubs to show a weak suit and weak opening and South settled in an ultra-cautious three no trump. Without a club lead, declarer has an easy 12 tricks, since the jack of spades is an entry once a diamond trick has been set up.

Old rubber bridge players have a saying that covers this situation: “If you can count 11 tricks, you can probably take 12.”

The Stanford lead was beginning to grow.

SCrt2009 Tribune Media Services