Bridge

March 7, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

East-West vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA J 7

u6 4

vA K Q 9

wQ 10 8 3

WEST EAST

x4 xK 10 8 5

uK J 8 7 2 uA 10 9 3

v10 8 6 5 v7 4 3

w7 6 2 w5 4

SOUTH

xQ 9 6 3 2

uQ 5

vJ 2

wA K J 9

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1x Pass

2x Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Seven of u

The problem with many defensive plays is that they are more likely to fool partner, who sees only half his side’s assets, than declarer, who knows exactly what he has available. Once in a while, though, a situation arises when it makes no difference how partner views the bait you are dangling in front of declarer.

Playing 12-14 point no trumps, North chose to open one diamond rather than one club because of the disparity in suit quality. His immediate raise of partner’s response with only three-card support, albeit a good fragment, is the only bid that should come into consideration, and South’s jump to game was automatic.

West led his fourth-best heart, and it might seem that, even with the spade finesse losing and the 4-1 trump split, declarer would coast home. After a losing trump finesse, the ace of spades would reveal the situation and declarer would pick up the remaining trumps and lose only two heart tricks and a trump.

The defenders quickly banked two heart tricks, after which West shifted to a club, won in the closed hand. Declarer then led a trump to the jack. Not only did that win, but East followed with the eight!

From declarer’s standpoint, the distribution was obvious — East held either the singleton eight or 10 8 doubleton. Therefore, there was a possibility for declarer to pick up the suit at no risk of losing two trump tricks. Since this was a pairs event, where overtricks were important, declarer came to hand with the jack of diamonds and led the queen of spades in an attempt to pin East’s ten. When West showed out, declarer had to lose a second trump trick — down one.

Note that, had East followed with the five on the first trump lead, declarer would probably take the right view and continue with the ace of spades. Lovely bit of deception!

2010 Tribune Media Services