bridge


bridge

Neither vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xVoid

uQ 9 8 5 2

vA Q J 6 5

wK 7 3

WEST EAST

xA 9 8 5 2 xK Q 10 4

uA K J u10 6 4 3

v2 v8 4

wA Q J 4 w10 9 5

SOUTH

xJ 7 6 3

u7

vK 10 9 7 3

w8 6 2

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1x Dbl 2x 3v

4x 5v Pass Pass

Dbl Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

Among the many sage bits of advice that the great Terence Reese handed down is: “There is no such thing as a blind opening lead. Just deaf opening leaders.” Here is a classic example.

There was no way North, with a distributional monster, was going to defend four spades once partner could introduce diamonds freely. We don’t blame West for doubting that the opponents could amass 11 tricks.

West led the king of hearts and then shifted to the ace and queen of clubs — too late. Declarer won with the king, ruffed a heart, drew two rounds of trumps with the ace and queen and ruffed another heart to fell the ace and set up the queen. A spade ruff provided the entry to cash the queen of hearts for a club discard and declarer claimed the rest — five diamonds doubled and made.

The auction all but marked North for heart length. Thus, West should have realized that a heart lead might help declarer establish dummy’s suit. Also, the king of clubs was likely to be with North. Therefore, leading the ace of clubs and continuing with the queen would not cost but might gain a trick. Here it would have led to a one-trick defeat no matter how declarer maneuvered.

2010 Tribune Media Services

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