bridge
bridge
North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xA K Q 10 5
u10 5 4 3
v3
wK 9 7
WEST EAST
x9 8 6 xJ 7 3
uK 2 uA J 8 7
vA 8 7 2 v9 6 5
wJ 5 3 2 wQ 8 4
SOUTH
x4 2
uQ 9 6
vK Q J 10 4
wA 10 6
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1v Pass 1x Pass
1NT Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Two of w
This deal is from a team match between a team of grizzled veterans and one of modern super-scientists. When the veterans sat North-South, their auction was short and to the point. When South showed a balanced minimum with his one-no-trump rebid, North wasted no time in getting to game. After a club lead to East’s queen, declarer won with the ace and forced out the ace of diamonds. West continued with a club, won in the closed hand with the ten. When the jack of spades dropped, declarer collected 12 tricks.
This was the auction at the other table:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1v Pass 1x Pass
2v Pass 2u Pass
2x Pass 3x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: ?
Since South’s opening bid could show as little as 10 points and South more than likely held only two spades (he could have raised spades immediately with three-card support), North felt he could do no better than invite game and South felt he had done all he could.
In a way, South was right! If declarer delays drawing trumps, or if East finds an opening lead of a low heart, the defenders collected two hearts, a heart ruff and the ace of diamonds — three spades bid and just made!
2010 Tribune Media Services
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