bridge

April 28, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x9 6

u7 6 5 3

vJ 5

wA K J 10 4

WEST EAST

x10 8 5 xJ 4

uJ 4 uA K 8 2

vQ 10 7 4 2 vA K 9 8 3

w7 5 2 w8 6

SOUTH

xA K Q 7 3 2

uQ 10 9

wQ 9 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass 1v Dbl

3v 3u 4v 4x

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of v

Here’s another example of the pre-empt in modern tournament bridge from a European international team trial.

At this table, an uneventful auction found South declaring four spades. West led the queen of diamonds, East overtook with the king, cashed the ace and king of hearts and gave his partner a heart ruff — 100 to East-West.

This was the auction at the other table:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

3v Pass 4v 4x

Pass Pass 5v Pass

Pass Dbl Pass Pass

Pass

After West’s three diamonds and North’s pass, East girded his loins and squeezed out a simple raise. South bid four spades but East thought enough of his hand to compete further, and North’s double ended the auction.

The defenders collected their obvious four tricks for 300 points and a total gain of 200 points, or 5 imps.

2010 Tribune Media Services