bridge

March 4, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA J 2

uK 9 7 3 2

v9 6 4

wJ 3

WEST EAST

x8 7 5 xQ 10 6

u10 8 5 4 uQ J

v7 2vJ 10 8 3

wA 10 6 5 wQ 9 7 4

SOUTH

xK 9 4 3

uA 6

vA K Q 5

wK 8 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass Pass 1v Pass

1u Pass 2NT Pass

3w Pass 3x Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of w

Cover the East and West cards and decide: How would you, South, play three no trump after the lead of the five of clubs?

The auction is routine these days. South’s second-round jump showed a balanced 18-19 points, three clubs was a check-back to see whether South had three-card support for hearts and three no trump ended the auction.

When dummy appears after the opening lead, you can count eight winners — two each in spades and hearts, three diamonds and one club. There are several chances for a ninth trick — a 4-4 split in clubs, a 3-3 distribution in diamonds or the spade finesse. How can you combine as many chances as possible?

First, return a club immediately. The opponents are likely to take their tricks in the suit. Now, if the clubs are 5-3, you still have two shots at the contract. When next you get in, play off the top diamonds. If they are 3-3, you have nine tricks; if not, you can still fall back on the spade finesse.

What if clubs are 4-4? The defenders can take only three tricks. Take the spade finesse first. If it loses you will still have time to play for a 3-3 split in either diamonds or spades to allow you to get home. Well done!

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services