Both vulnerable. South deals.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 9 7

u9 7

vA K 9 5 3

w6 4 3

WEST EAST

x5 3 xJ 10 8 4

uK 8 5 3 2 uJ 4

vQ 8 7 4 2 vVoid

wK wQ J 10 9 8 7 5

SOUTH

xK Q 6 2

uA Q 10 6

vJ 10 6

wA 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT 2u 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

For the next few weeks we will be featuring deals from the ACBL Summer North American Championships, held in Washington, D.C., at the end of July. This deal, reported by Bill Schreiber, piqued our fancy.

West’s two-heart overcall showed hearts and a minor and North’s jump to three no trump showed game-going values but denied a heart stopper. South was delighted.

The opening heart lead was covered by the jack and taken with the queen. Declarer ran the ten of diamonds, ducked by West as East discarded a club. The jack of diamonds was covered by the queen and taken with the king as East let go another club. Next came the nine of hearts, run to the king.

West exited with the king of clubs to declarer’s ace and South cashed his two heart winners as both dummy and East let go two clubs to bring about this position:

xA 9 7

u —

vA 9 5

w —

x5 3 xJ 10 8 4

u8 u —

v8 7 4 v —

w — wQ J

xK Q 6 2

u —

v6

w2

When declarer continued with a diamond to the nine, East could afford to discard a club, but the ace of diamonds continuation ruined him. No matter which black-suit card he chose to discard, the deuce of that suit would be declarer’s third overtrick.

SCrt2009 Tribune Media Services