bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xQ 4 2

uJ 9 6

vQ 10 5

wJ 8 7 4

WEST EAST

x8 7 3 x9 5

u10 4 2 uA 7 3

v9 7 6 4 3 2 vK J 8

w3 wA Q 6 5 2

SOUTH

xA K J 10 6

uK Q 8 5

vA

wK 10 9

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2x Pass

3u Pass 3x Pass

4x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of w

Every card has a story to tell. You must just make sure you are conveying the right tale!

North had as little as the law allows for a raise of his partner’s opening bid of one spade. South’s bids of three hearts followed by four spades showed slam interest.

West led the three of clubs to East’s ace. East correctly divined that the lead was a singleton and gave count by returning a fourth-best five of clubs, covered by the ten and ruffed. Since South had bid hearts, West attempted to reach his partner by shifting to a diamond. That ended the defense. Declarer won, drew trumps and conceded a heart trick — four spades bid and made.

East should have realized that how many clubs he held was of little interest to his partner. More important was to tell him in which red suit he held his entry. He could accomplish that by making a suit-preference return of the queen of clubs. Partner would ruff, return the higher-ranking suit, hearts, and ruff another club for the setting trick.

2010 Tribune Media Services

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