Bridge

April 13, 2010 at 12:16a.m.

Bridge

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xK Q 5

uA Q 10

wK 8 6 4 3 2

WEST EAST

xA 8 4 3 2 xJ 9 6

u9 7 2 uJ 8 5

vK Q 9 8 v7 6 4 3

w7 wA Q 9

SOUTH

x10 7

uK 6 4 3

vA 10 5 2

wJ 10 5

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1w Pass 1u

1x Dbl 2x 3w

3v 3x Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of v

Getting a look at dummy can make a big difference to your defense. Consider this hand from the Senior Championship at the 2009 World Team Championships.

With Poland sitting East-West against the U.S.A., West chose to lead the king of diamonds and East started an echo to give count. With two spade stoppers in dummy, West saw no reason to switch, and continued with a diamond. With the clubs lying well for the defense, in the fullness of time the defenders collected two tricks in each minor and the ace of spades — down one.

This was the bidding at the other table:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1w Pass 1u

Dbl Rdbl Pass Pass

1x 2w Pass 3w

Pass 3u Pass 3x

Pass 3NT Pass Pass

Pass

East led a low spade, West won with the ace and the diamond shift was not clear — switch the queen of clubs and the queen of spades, for instance, and a spade continuation could be crucial. West decided to go that way. Declarer won with the queen, led a heart to the king and then ran the jack of clubs. East won and set up two long spades but, with no fast entry to the West hand, declarer was able to take nine tricks before the defenders could score their spade tricks.

The U.S. lost 12 imps on the board without having done anything wrong.

2010 Tribune Media Services