bridge

March 18, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA K 5 2

uK J 10 5 2

vJ 2

w8 3

WEST EAST

xQ 6 4 3 x9 7

u9 8 7 6 4 3 uQ

vK 6 vA 9 8 7 5 4 3

w4 wK 7 6

SOUTH

xJ 10 8

vQ 10

wA Q J 10 9 5 2

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1u 2v 3w

Pass 3u Pass 3x

Pass 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: King of v

The ideal eight-card trump fit for major-suit game is 4-4. However, the Moysian 4-3 fit, so-called because the late editor of the Bridge World, Sonny Moyse, was one of its greatest proponents, can be almost as effective as long as the ruffs are taken in the short-trump hand. This deal is from a match between Scotland and Wales.

West led the king of diamonds and continued with a diamond to the ace. East shifted to the queen of hearts, won in the closed hand. Declarer ran the ten of spades and, when that won, continued with the jack, covered by the queen and taken with the ace. When East could not ruff the king of hearts, declarer cashed the jack and ten as well. Declarer then ruffed the last heart with the eight of spades, cashed the ace of clubs and exited with a club to East’s king. Dummy scored the last two tricks with the A 5 of trumps over West’s 6 4.

SCrt2010 Tribune Media Services