bridge

August 13, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

North-South vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xK Q 4 3

uJ 8 7

vA 6 5

w9 4 3

WEST EAST

x9 x8 2

uK Q 10 5 4 3 uA 9 6 2

v2 vK Q J 8 7 3

wQ J 10 6 5 wK

SOUTH

xA J 10 7 6 5

uVoid

v10 9 4

wA 8 7 2

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1v 1x 2u 2x

3u 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Two ofv

At favorable vulnerability, West was more than a little chicken to sell out to four spades — five hearts could not go more than two down. Still, there was always the possibility that South would not be able to handle the contract.

West led the deuce of diamonds, an obvious singleton. Declarer was facing two losers in each minor suit. A strip-endplay was the only way to avoid that.

Declarer won the opening lead with the table’s ace, ruffed a heart and used dummy’s two high spades as entries for two heart ruffs. So far, declarer could count West for six hearts (with a seventh heart wouldn’t West likely have competed with five hearts?) and one card in each minor, hence five clubs. That meant that East had started with a singleton club, and declarer saw a way to get home.

He cashed the ace of clubs and exited with the ten of diamonds, and East was trapped. He could win two diamond tricks but no matter what red card he played next, declarer would ruff while discarding one of dummy’s club losers. South lost only two diamond tricks and one club.

2010 Tribune Media Services