BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xQ 9 4

uQ 8

vQ J 10 7 6

wK 4 2

WEST EAST

xK J 3 x10 8 7 2

u7 3 u9 5 4 2

vK 5 vA 8 3 2

wA J 8 7 6 3 w5

SOUTH

xA 6 5

uA K J 10 6

v9 4

wQ 10 9

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

2w Pass Pass 2u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of w

When playing against expert defenders, there are times when you might as well be declaring with open cards. Sitting East-West on this deal were Alan Sontag and Peter Weichsel.

Since they were playing a forcing club system, Weichsel’s two-club opening bid was the equivalent of a normal one-club opening. When South balanced with two hearts rather than a takeout double, it seemed that an impregnable contract had been reached, but...

West led the ace of clubs and East’s five was either a singleton or lowest from three. West carefully continued with the seven, a middling card to show no preference for either of the unbid suits. East ruffed and reading partner’s defense, returned a low diamond away from the ace. West won and gave his partner another ruff, and East made the killing shift to a spade. Regardless of what declarer did, he could not avoid losing a spade and another diamond for down one. Simply delightful!

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services