BRIDGE

February 9, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

East-West vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xK Q 5 4

u6 3

vK 5

wK J 6 5 3

WEST EAST

xJ 9 6 x8 7 2

uQ 10 uK J 8 7 5

vJ 8 6 4 2 v10 7

w10 9 4 wA Q 7

SOUTH

xA 10 3

uA 9 4 2

vA Q 9 3

w8 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w 1u 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of u

This deal is from the Helen Sobel Smith Women’s Pairs event at the recent Fall North American Championships held in San Diego, Calif. Sitting South was Lynn Deas of Newport News, Va.

The auction was simple enough. After North’s minimum opening bid and East’s overcall, South’s jump to three no trump was the logical bid and it ended the auction.

Declarer allowed both West’s queen of hearts lead and the continuation of the ten to hold. West shifted to the six of spades. Declarer cashed her four spades and two diamond winners, ending in hand, to bring about this position:

NORTH

x —

u —

v —

wK J 6 5 3

WESTEAST

x — x —

u — uK J 7

vJ 8 v —

w10 9 4 wA Q

SOUTH

x —

uA 9

w8 2

When South now led the queen of diamonds, East was left with a choice of losing options: To discard a club would allow South to exit with a club to East’s ace, setting up the king of clubs as the fulfilling trick. And to discard a heart would permit declarer to continue with ace and another heart, throwing East on lead to set up the king of clubs for the ninth trick and the contract. Making three no trump scored a joint top on the board.

2010 Tribune Media Services