bridge

September 1, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

uQ J 2

v4 2

wA K Q J 6 5 3

WEST EAST

xA 7 5 3 2 xJ 10 8 4

u10 9 6 uK 8

vQ J 9 7 vA 5

w10 w9 8 7 4 2

SOUTH

xQ 9 6

uA 7 5 4 3

vK 10 8 6 3

wVoid

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1u Pass

2x Pass 3v Pass

3u Pass 3x Pass

4w Pass 4v Pass

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of w

Italy grabbed the early lead in their European Championships match against Iceland, but Iceland soon struck back.

The Italians had a fairly normal auction to four hearts — North’s two spades was an invitational heart raise. After a couple of probing bids, four hearts was the final contract.

West led the ten of clubs, taken in dummy as declarer parted with a spade. The king of spades lost to the ace, a diamond was led to East’s ace and a diamond was returned. Declarer won with the king and led a low heart to the queen and king. Back came a club and the defenders now had to score another trump trick. Declarer ruffed low, West overruffed, a diamond return was ruffed high in dummy, declarer drew trumps and conceded down one.

In the other room the contract was four hearts by North after a strong club opening and a transfer sequence. The opening lead was the jack of spades and declarer made 10 tricks — 13 Imps to Iceland and Italy’s lead was down to two. Eventually, Italy emerged winners by exactly that margin.

2010 Tribune Media Services