BRIDGE

February 17, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

x5 4 2

uA 7 4

vK 10 8 4

w8 7 3

WEST EAST

x8 7 3 xJ 10

uK 8 6 5 2 u3

v2 vQ J 9 7 6 5

wQ 5 4 2 wK J 10 9

SOUTH

xA K Q 9 6

uQ J 10 9

vA 3

wA 6

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

2v Dbl Pass 2NT

Pass 3x Pass 4x

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of v

Here’s another deal from the ACBL Fall North American Championships that could have been lifted straight from a duplicate play textbook. It comes from the Edgar Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs, and reported by Barry Rigal.

With spades breaking 3-2, a no-trump game would have produced 11 tricks in quick time. Most North-South pairs, however, got to four spades on an auction such as the above.

With the opening lead marked as a singleton, it is right to play low from dummy and win the ace to protect it from a ruff. Two rounds of trumps marked West with the missing spade. Next declarer took two heart finesses and crossed to the table with the ace of hearts. Then declarer came to hand with the ace of clubs and ruffed his remaining heart, but now could not get off dummy without conceding a ruff and declarer was held to 11 tricks.

After the second heart finesse wins, declarer should try to get to dummy by leading a diamond! If West ruffs, the club loser goes away on the king of diamonds. If West discards, the king of diamonds wins, declarer clears the ace of hearts, comes to hand with the ace of clubs and ruffs the remaining heart. Declarer returns to hand with a diamond ruffed high, draws the outstanding trump and scores 12 tricks!

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services