bridge

May 28, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10 4

uJ 7 2

vK Q 9

wA K J 4 3

WEST EAST

xA Q 6 xK J 9 8 3 2

uA Q 9 6 3 u8 5 4

v10 4 v5

w9 8 2 w10 7 6

SOUTH

x7 5

uK 10

vA J 8 7 6 3 2

wQ 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

Pass 1u 2w Pass

2v Pass 3v 3u

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: ?

There was a new event at this year’s ACBL Spring North American Championships held in Reno — the Platinum Pairs. It was won by New Yorkers Andrew Stark and Franco Baseggio by a margin of less than one-half of a matchpoint! In the process, they beat out some of the country’s top stars. To appreciate this deal, cover everything except the West hand and the bidding, and decide: What would you lead against three no trump?

If you elected to lead a low heart, you will simply follow suit as the opponents collect 13 tricks. Stark chose a different course. He reasoned that the king of hearts was to his right and that the opponents had length in the minors. With spades unbid, he elected to hope that his partner held the king of spades and so decided to lead the unbid suit. However, in case he wanted to collect his two aces, he settled on the ace for his initial attack.

Needless to say, his partner liked the lead — a lot! He signaled vigorously with nine. Eight tricks later they claimed down four!

2010 Tribune Media Services