bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xA Q J

uA K 7 3

vA 6 3

wA Q 9

WEST EAST

xK 4 3 x9 8 7 2

uJ 9 u6 5

vK Q J 8 7 v10 9 4 2

w10 5 3 wK J 2

SOUTH

x10 6 5

uQ 10 8 4 2

v5

w8 7 6 4

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass Pass 1v Dbl

2v Pass Pass Dbl

Pass 2u Pass 3v

Pass 4u Pass 6u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of v

We are not sure how many agree with Oscar Wilde’s epigram: “Life imitates art!” Certainly this deal from a world championship some years ago could have come from any textbook on elimination plays.

Since the two-heart response to North’s second takeout double promised nothing, South felt justified in leaping to game over his partner’s diamond cue-bid. North needed to hear no more.

Sitting South was Kit Woolsey of Kensington, Cal. He won the opening diamond lead, drew trumps in two rounds, ending in hand, and took a winning spade finesse. After repeating the spade finesse, declarer cashed the ace of spades. A diamond ruff completed the elimination of the pointed suits from both declarer’s hand and the table, and the contract could now be claimed.

Declarer led a club from hand, intending to simply cover any card, which West played. When West followed low, dummy’s nine was played and East could win with the jack. However, a diamond or spade return would allow declarer to ruff in hand while discarding dummy’s queen of clubs, while a club back would be into dummy’s tenace. Either way, the defenders could collect no more than one club trick and the slam was home.

2010 Tribune Media Services