bridge

April 29, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA K Q 10 5

u10 5 4 3

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