bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x9 8 5 4

u4

vK 10 8 4

wA K Q 5

WEST EAST

xA K Q J 6 x3 2

uA 6 2 u9 8 7

v5 2 v7 6 3

w9 7 2 wJ 10 6 4 3

SOUTH

x10 7

uK Q J 10 5 3

vA Q J 9

w8

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u 1x Dbl Pass

2v Pass 3v Pass

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of x

Sometimes, a simple uppercut is not enough to sink a contract — the old one-two punch is required. Consider this deal.

North’s double of the one-spade overcall was negative — for takeout, not penalties. North did well to leave in four hearts with his singleton rather than correct to five diamonds, which can be beaten off the top.

West began with the king of spades, on which East started an echo to show his doubleton. It might seem that the best the defenders can do is take two spades and the ace of trumps, but appearances are deceptive. West continued with queen of spades and the six, East ruffing with the nine to start giving a trump count.

Declarer overruffed with the ten and led the jack of hearts, but West would have none of that. He won with the ace of trumps and reverted to a spade, East ruffing with the seven to force an overruff with the queen. Wonder of wonders — West’s six of hearts was promoted to the setting trick.

Looking at South’s trump holding, would you have thought he had two losers in the suit, the ace and the six?

2010 Tribune Media Services

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