bridge

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

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 9 8 3

wA K J 10 8 5 4

WEST EAST

xQ J xVoid

uQ 9 7 6 4 u10 8 5 2

vA K 10 8 5 2 vQ J 7 4

wVoid wQ 9 7 6 3

SOUTH

xA 10 7 6 5 4 2

uA J 3

v9 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2x 3v 4x 5v

5x Pass Pass 6v

Pass Pass 6x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: ?

This deal is from the Scotland-Ireland match in the British Women’s Team Championship some years ago. Scotland was sitting North-South.

As far as we are concerned, no pre-emptive bid should contain two aces. We would rather open one spade at any vulnerability than two spades at this vulnerability. The result was that North, not expecting anything in defense, took a phantom sacrifice when his side held three aces and three kings and the opponents were contracting for 12 tricks!

Even so, six spades was not without a chance. Indeed, only one lead can defeat the slam — and West found it. She led the deuce of diamonds. East was surprised to find that her jack of diamonds won the trick, and the opening card chosen carried a suit-preference signal for the lower plain suit — clubs. She duly returned a club and West ruffed — down one.

At the other table the Scottish South opened one spade and, after a competitive auction, reached six spades. Here East had not supported partner’s diamonds, and so West had no reason to underlead her diamond honors. The king of diamonds was the only trick for the defense.

SCrt 2010 Tribune Media Services