BRIDGE

February 10, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x7 2

uQ J 5 2

vA 9 8 6 4

wQ 5

WEST EAST

xK Q 5 xJ 9 8 3

uK 8 u10 9 7

vQ J 10 2 v7 3

wK 9 7 3 wJ 8 6 4

SOUTH

xA 10 6 4

uA 6 4 3

vK 5

wA 10 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2w Pass

2u Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of v

Between them, the Siebert brothers of Little Rock, Ark., have won more than 30,000 master points! Here is older brother Dave, who will celebrate his 70th birthday this year, at work in the Senior Knockout Teams at the recent ACBL Fall North American Championships in San Diego, Calif.

The auction was straightforward. South opened one no trump (15-17 points). North inquired about major suits with a Stayman two clubs and raised South’s heart response to game.

Declarer won the opening lead of the queen of diamonds in hand and led a low club up to the queen. West rose with the king and shifted to the king of spades. Declarer won, cashed the queen of clubs, led a heart to the ace and continued with the ace of clubs, discarding the table’s losing spade.

Declarer now reverted to trumps, West winning with the king. A spade forced dummy to ruff, bringing about this position:

x —

vA 9 8 6

w —

x5 xJ 9

u — u10

vJ 10 2 v3

w7 wJ

x10 6

u6 4

w —

Declarer finished off the hand impeccably. He cashed the ace of diamonds and continued the suit. East discarded a club (ruffing would be no better), declarer ruffed in hand and led a spade, ruffing with dummy’s master trump. He led another diamond. Whether or not East ruffed, South would score the six of hearts en passant for his 10th trick.

2010 Tribune Media Services