bridge

October 10, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA K J 8

vK J 7 6 3

wK 9 7

WEST EAST

xQ 10 6 x7 4 3 2

uQ 9 7 6 4 3 u5

vQ 8 v10 9 5 2

w10 3 wJ 6 4 2

SOUTH

x9 5

uK J 10 8 2

vA 4

wA Q 8 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 1x Pass

2wPass 2v Pass

2NT Pass 4NT Pass

5u Pass 5NT Pass

6v Pass 6NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: ?

Consider this deal from an international tournament in Taipei. What do you consider declarer’s chances to be in his contract of six no trump?

In the words of the immortal Al Roth: “What’s the problem?” Depending on how declarer plays, with the help of finesses for the queen of spades, queen of diamonds and jack of clubs, declarer can take all the tricks (four spades, two hearts, three diamonds and four clubs). However, Taiwan internationalist Dr. C.S. Shen found the devilish lead of the ten of spades!

Placing the queen of spades with East, declarer won with the king and went after diamonds by conceding a trick in the suit. East won and returned a heart and declarer cashed his winners, coming down to a spade and a club in hand and A J of spades in dummy. Convinced that East had to discard down to the queen of spades and a club winner and West to a spade and the queen of hearts, declarer triumphantly led a spade to the ace — down one!

2010 Tribune Media Services