Bridge

April 6, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Bridge

Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA 9 3

vA Q 9 6 5 2

wA J 9

WEST EAST

x10 xK 8 7 4

uA J 10 9 5 2 uK 6

vJ 8 3 vK 10 7

wQ 7 4 w8 6 5 2

SOUTH

xQ J 6 5 2

uQ 8 4 3

wK 10 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

2u Dbl 3u 4x

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of u

North-South did well in the auction to get to their major-suit game. South did equally well in the play of the hand.

We like North’s decision to make a takeout double of West’s weak two-bid. If he had bid three diamonds, South would probably have stayed out of the auction. All that was left was to make the game.

West led the ace of hearts and continued with a low heart. Declarer ruffed in dummy and was delighted to see the king fall from East. He cashed the ace of trumps, fetching the ten from West, then ran the nine successfully. There were finesse positions in both minor suits, but declarer wisely decided that those could wait.

Instead, declarer returned to hand with the king of clubs and led the queen of spades. East did the best he could by winning with the king and exiting with a trump, won by the jack in the closed hand.

With the groundwork complete, declarer now led his diamond and simply covered any card West produced. East could win cheaply, but no matter which minor suit he returned, declarer had the rest of the tricks, if necessary setting up the diamonds with a ruff while there was still a club entry to the dummy. Try it.

2010 Tribune Media Services