bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10 9 4

uA 8 6 3

vQ 10 2

wA J 6

WEST EAST

xK 7 5 x8 3

uK 10 4 2 uQ 9 7 5

v8 5 vA 9 4 3

w9 7 4 3 wK 8 5

SOUTH

xA Q J 6 2

uJ

vK J 7 6

wQ 10 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1xPass 1NT Pass

2v Pass 3x Pass

4xPass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Eight of v

North-South reach the good four-spade contract with the help of one of the newer gadgets — the forcing one-no-trump response. By following up with a jump in spades North shows a limit raise in spades with specifically three trumps, and South has no problem in going to game.

West leads the eight of diamonds, and East can tell that it is either a doubleton or singleton. If it is singleton, East can win and give his partner a ruff. If it’s doubleton, East must duck since the ace of diamonds is his only quick entry. Since it is more likely to be a doubleton than a singleton, East must retain his ace. However, East should signal with the nine to ask partner to continue with diamonds to obtain the ruff.

Switch the ace of diamonds and king of clubs with dummy’s minor-suit honors. Now East must follow with a low diamond to show partner an entry in clubs, should partner have a singleton diamond.

2010 Tribune Media Services