bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xQ 7 3

uK 6 5

v9 7 4 2

w10 6 3

WEST EAST

xJ 10 9 4 x8 6 2

uJ 10 7 4 uQ 9 2

vA Q 5 v8 6 3

wQ 7 wJ 9 8 4

SOUTH

xA K 5

uA 8 3

vK J 10

wA K 5 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of x

Here’s a chance to test your analytical skill. Which card is the key to declarer making nine tricks at notrump?

The bidding is straightforward. South’s opening shows a balanced 20-22 points and North has just enough to raise to game.

Declarer won the opening led in dummy with the queen and led a diamond to the ten and queen. Seeing no future in spades, West shifted to a low heart. Declarer captured East’s queen with the ace and led the king of diamonds. West took the ace and persevered with hearts, forcing out the king, and declarer could make no more than eight tricks since there was no entry to dummy’s long diamond.

Give yourself an A plus if you selected the nine of diamonds as the game-going trick. And to score it you have to protect your entries to dummy.

Win the first trick in hand and lead the king of diamonds. Even if West takes the ace and reverts to hearts, you are in control. It makes no difference where you win this trick as long as you persist with diamonds, driving out the queen. The best the defenders can do is to win and play another heart, but the contract is assured. After winning the heart, unblock the ten of diamonds, return to dummy with the queen of spades and cash the nine of diamonds for your ninth trick. No matter how the defenders play, you will collect three spades and two in each other suit.

2010 Tribune Media Services