bridge

August 5, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

East-West vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK Q 8 5

uQ 9 7

vJ 6 2

wK Q 8

WEST EAST

xA 4 xJ 10 7 2

uJ 10 6 u8 2

vA K Q 9 7 3 v10 5

w7 5 w9 6 4 3 2

SOUTH

x9 6 3

uA K 5 4 3

v8 4

wA J 10

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u 2v 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of v

When this deal was played in a high-stakes game, four hearts failed by a trick, and declarer could do nothing about it. Looking at all four hands, can you find the one card that set up the fourth trick for the defense?

The bidding was simple enough. With a full opening bid and a goodish three-card fragment in support of partner’s opening bid, North wasted no time in getting to the heart game.

West led the king of diamonds, and dummy was a dispiriting sight to him. It was obvious that East was not going to provide any trick on power, but West found the one line that could perhaps defeat the contract. All it needed was for East to hold the eight of hearts!

West took his two diamond tricks and cashed the ace of spades, then reverted to diamonds by leading the three! East cooperated by ruffing with the eight, and declarer overruffed with the king. There was now no way for South to prevent West’s J 10 6 of hearts from taking the setting trick!

Bridge has adopted many colorful expressions from other fields. This technique comes from the manly art of boxing, and is known in the trade as an uppercut.

2010 Tribune Media Services