bridge

May 13, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x8 4

u6 5 2

vA J 5 3

w8 7 4 2

WESTEAST

xQ 7 5 2xK 10 9 3

u8 3uA 10 9 4

v9 2v10 7 6

wQ 10 6 5 3wA 9

SOUTH

xA J 6

uK Q J 7

vK Q 8 4

wK J

The bidding:

SOUTHWESTNORTHEAST

2NTPass3NTPass

PassPass

Opening lead: Five of w

One of our favorite definitions is that a pessimist is someone who has spent some time with an optimist. At the bridge table, it is well to prepare for the dark side of things. If they do not occur, it was time well spent, anyway.

North-South reached three no trump in quick time. It required some luck and some good play, and South was able to take care of the latter. To come to nine tricks, declarer needed to set up the hearts. If West held the ace, there was no hope for declarer — the defenders would take four clubs and the ace of hearts, so that card had to be with East if the contract were to succeed. Even so, if hearts were 2-4, declarer would need three entries to dummy to get home. Fortunately, declarer had the necessary technique.

East won the first trick with the ace of clubs and returned the suit to South’s king. Declarer cashed the king of diamonds and continued with the eight of diamonds to the jack, both defenders following. A low heart to the king won and declarer returned to the table by overtaking the queen of diamonds with the ace! Another heart to the queen held and declarer was able to get to dummy a third time by overtaking the four of diamonds with the five to lead another heart. Whether or not East rose with the ace, declarer had nine tricks — one each in the black suits, four diamonds and three hearts!

2010 Tribune Media Services