bridge

May 25, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xJ 10 4 2

uQ 5

vA K 10

wQ J 10 2

WEST EAST

xA K x5

uJ 10 9 7 3 2 uA 8 6 4

vJ 6 2 v9 8 7 3

w5 3 wA 8 7 6

SOUTH

xQ 9 8 7 6 3

vQ 5 4

wK 9 4

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1x Pass

2xPass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of u

For a while we will be reporting on deals from the ACBL Spring North American Championships held in Reno in mid-March. Barry Rigal reported this deal from the Lebhar IMP Pairs.

At many tables, South declared four spades on an auction like what’s shown. Looking at all four hands, it is easy to see that declarer has four sure losers. What happened was that East, afraid that declarer held king-third in hearts, ducked the first trick! Four spades bid and made. Incidentally, looking at the North hand, what loser did East think was going away on the king of hearts?

We have frequently railed against the weak overcalls being made these days in bridge tournaments. Here, however, had West overcalled in hearts there was no way that declarer could hold the king of hearts doubly guarded.

We must confess that, holding a hand with five playing tricks including two defensive tricks, we would have girded our loins and overcalled two hearts.

2010 Tribune Media Services