bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 10 9 4

u8 5 3

v6 2

wK 6 3 2

WEST EAST

xQ 7 6 5 xVoid

uK Q 4 2 uJ 10 9 7 6

v9 7 4 v10 8 5 3

wQ 10 wJ 9 7 4

SOUTH

xA K 8 3 2

uA

vA K Q J

wA 8 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2v Pass

2x Pass 4x Pass

6x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

A key difference between rubber bridge and duplicate is the importance of overtricks. The former offers the opportunity for safety plays even when the odds favoring success are overwhelming. At duplicate, you often cannot afford to sacrifice a possible overtrick just to secure the contract.

South’s opening bid was an artificial game force. North’s response was negative and the jump to four spades showed minimum values. South had enough to venture slam.

West led the king of hearts, and it was obvious that only a 4-0 trump split put the contract at risk. In a pair event it would be right to cash a high trump after winning the ace of hearts, and that would inevitably lead to the contract’s defeat on the lie of the cards. Try it.

If West has all the trumps, a dummy reversal is required to land 12 tricks. At trick two, declarer must lead the eight of spades! West can do no better than rise with the queen and return a trump. Now declarer can use the high trumps in hand for ruffing hearts while dummy’s J 10 9 of trumps will draw the enemy fangs.

The trump return is won on the table with the nine and a heart is ruffed high. A trump to the ten permits another heart ruff with declarer’s remaining spade honor. Declarer now crosses to the king of clubs to draw the outstanding trumps, discarding a club from hand, and five more tricks in the minors bring declarer’s total to 12.

2010 Tribune Media Services