bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x4 3

u9 4

vA Q J 4 2

wA J 10 3

WEST EAST

xQ J 10 x7 2

uA K Q 10 u7 5 2

v8 7 v10 9 6 5

wQ 8 7 6 wK 5 4 2

SOUTH

xA K 9 8 6 5

uJ 8 6 3

vK 3

w9

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2v Pass

2u Pass 3w Pass

3x Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

With just 15 words available (four suits and no trump, the numbers 1 through 7, pass, double and redouble), it is amazing how much information can be transmitted at the bridge table. Consider this auction:

South described his hand exactly — six spades, four hearts and three minor-suit cards. With 5-5 in the majors South would have rebid three hearts; with 5-4-3-1, he would rebid three diamonds; and with 5-4-2-2, two no trump. So the best contract was reached in quick time.

West led the king of hearts and shifted to the queen of trumps. Had declarer won this trick, the contract would have gone down to defeat — try it. However, declarer countered simply by allowing West to win this trick. No matter how West continued, as soon as declarer regained the lead he could draw the outstanding trumps and discard two losers on the diamonds. Well bid and well played.

2010 Tribune Media Services