bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xJ 9 8 7 4 3 2

uVoid

vVoid

wA K 10 8 7 6

WEST EAST

x5 xA K Q 6

uA K Q 7 5 2 uJ 10

v10 6 4 3 vA K Q 9 7 5

w5 4 w2

SOUTH

x10

u9 8 6 4 3

vJ 8 2

wQ J 9 3

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1v Pass 1u 2NT

5v Pass Pass 5x

Dbl 6w Pass Pass

Dbl Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of u

Every big tournament has its share of freak hands. However, this deal, from one of the secondary team events at the recent ACBL Summer North American Championships, which took place in New Orleans, tops any we can recall seeing.

West might have considered raising to six diamonds when his partner could jump to five diamonds without having received any support for his suit and when his partner could have been expecting as few as 6 points.

North’s two no trump was takeout for the unbid suits, hence South’s bid of five spades and correction to six clubs when that was doubled.

Six clubs doubled was made by setting up dummy’s spades, scoring 1,090.

In the other room East-West scored 1,430, to gain 21 IMPs for their team. And when last did you see an unbeatable slam bid by a side missing A K Q in all three plain suits?

2010 Tribune Media Services