Bridge

April 11, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 10 2

uA K 4 3

vQ J 10

wA Q 2

WEST EAST

xQ 9 7 6 3 xVoid

u7 2 uQ J 10 9

v8 5 3 2 v9 7 6 4

w4 3 wJ 8 7 6 5

SOUTH

xA K 8 5 4

u8 6 5

vA K

wK 10 9

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 6NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of w

Before you play to the first trick, make sure you count your winners. More often than not, that will be enough to point you to the correct line.

We endorse South’s decision to open one no trump with his balanced hand, including a five-card major — it tends to make rebidding easier. North added his 17 to partner’s 15-17, saw there was not enough for a grand slam and settled in six no trump.

West led a club, declarer played low from dummy and captured East’s jack with the king. There were eight tricks available in hearts, diamonds and clubs, so four spade tricks were needed. That was easy if spades were 4-1, but if the suit were 5-0 the contract would need West to hold the spades.

Declarer led a low spade from hand, West played low and dummy’s ten won. Declarer returned to hand with the king of diamonds and led another spade. East rose with the queen and exited with a diamond. Declarer won, cashed the jack of spades but had no entry back to hand for his long spades — down two.

As is usually the case, declarer made his error at trick one. He must win the first trick in dummy, and then he can return to hand later with the king of clubs to cash the long spades!

2010 Tribune Media Services