bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK J 10

uK J 2

v10 9 4 3

wJ 9 4

WEST EAST

xQ 6 4 2 xA 9 3

u10 7 6 3 u9 8 4

vK 6 v7 5 2

w7 5 2 wA Q 10 8

SOUTH

x8 7 5

uA Q 5

vA Q J 8

wK 6 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2NT Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of x

Yesterday, we saw how something as easy as counting points can lead to a winning defense. Here is another example.

The auction is simple enough. With 9 points and a balanced hand, North has enough to invite game, and with 16 points and some combinations that could produce tricks, South has just enough to raise to game.

West led the deuce of spades, and it was obvious that spades were not going to be a fertile field for the defense to harvest. East can account for 35-36 points, so the only hope for the defense is the club suit. East must hope that West either holds the king of clubs or an outside entry and at least three clubs.

East found a way to take advantage of both possibilities. He rose with the ace of spades at trick one and shifted to the queen of clubs!

Declarer covered with the king, which held. There was no way to nine tricks without running the diamonds, so declarer crossed to the jack of hearts and ran the ten of diamonds. West grabbed the king and reverted to a club and, with J 9 of clubs in dummy “surrounded” by East’s A 10, the defenders had to collect three club tricks to go with a spade and a diamond — down one. That this technique is known in the trade as a “surround play” is no surprise.

2010 Tribune Media Services