bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xQ 6

uA K 9 2

v10 4 3 2

wJ 5 3

WEST EAST

x9 7 3 xJ 10 5 2

u10 7 5 uJ 8 6 4 3

vQ 6 vK 8

wA 8 7 4 2 wK 10

SOUTH

xA K 8 4

uQ

vA J 9 7 5

wQ 9 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 1u Pass

1x Pass 3v Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of w

Cover up the East and South hands before reading on. If your partner is a reasonably competent defender you should be able to solve the problem posed by the play to the first two tricks.

The auction is routine, North’s jump to three diamonds, by partnership agreement, was invitational, and South had something in reserve for his bid of three no trump.

As West, you lead the fourth-best club. Partner’s king of clubs wins the trick and he continues with the ten, declarer following with the queen from hand. Does partner have three clubs, in which case ducking is necessary to retain communications, or only two, in which case you should win and clear the suit?

It is simple enough. With K 10 x of clubs, partner would have inserted the ten at trick one! Therefore, you must rise with the ace of clubs and continue the suit, but you must take care to return the deuce to suggest a possible entry in diamonds, the lower-ranking side-suit. That gives partner the opportunity to defend brilliantly — he must sluff the king of diamonds from hand. Declarer has no way to come to nine tricks without two diamond tricks, and has no way to develop a second without letting you gain the lead to cash your two good clubs.

Jettisoning the king of diamonds is unlikely to cost much. If West does not have the queen of diamonds, declarer will be able to finesse for the king and land his contract.

2010 Tribune Media Services