Bridge

March 14, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA K 8 3 2

u8 3

vK J 9 5 4

WEST EAST

xJ 10 6 5 x9 4

uQ 10 7 2 uA K J 5 4

vQ 3 vA 10 8 7

w9 5 2 wA J

SOUTH

xQ 7

u9 6

v6 2

wQ 10 8 7 6 4 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1x Dbl 2w Pass

2v Pass 3w Pass

Pass Dbl Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Two of u

In a match-point contract, the number 200 is the Holy Grail for the competitors. If your side does not have a game, collecting 200 from the opponents assures an excellent result. That leads to a lot of close doubles and defensive challenges.

South’s hand was good for play in clubs and nothing else. North realized that and did not try to improve the contract after East doubled. East’s conservatism in the auction was based on the fact that his second suit was bid by North.

West led a low heart and the defenders quickly took their two tricks in the suit. The two minor suit aces would complete the book, but where was the setting trick going to come from? One possibility was to keep punching the declarer in hearts but, as anyone can see, that tactic was doomed to fail — declarer would ruff the third heart in hand and had enough trumps to withstand any attack.

That left just one hope. East decided instead to try for an extra trump trick via promotion, and the diamond suit offered the only hope for that. At trick three East cashed the ace of diamonds and continued the suit, West’s queen falling to dummy’s king. The king of clubs was taken with the ace and another diamond sealed declarer’s fate. Whether South ruffed high or low, West’s nine of clubs would be promoted to the setting trick.

2010 Tribune Media Services