bridge

September 22, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 9 5

uA J

vA K

wA K 10 9 8 7

WEST EAST

x10 3 xQ 8 6 2

u8 7 6 2 uK 10 5 3

vQ J 10 7 5 4 v3

w3 wQ J 6 5

SOUTH

xA J 7 4

uQ 9 4

v9 8 6 2

w4 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

Pass Pass 1w Pass

1v 2v Pass Pass

3x Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of w

The late Alphonse “Sonny” Moyse, for many years editor of The Bridge World magazine, was a staunch promoter of the 4-3 major-suit fit as playable at the game level. Here’s an example from the recent European Bridge Championships.

In the Closed Room the contract was three no trump, making 11 tricks by establishing the clubs and squeezing East in the majors. Four spades proved far from easy. South’s one club was artificial and strong, one diamond was negative and the rest of the auction was natural.

Declarer won the club opening in dummy, came to hand with the ace of trumps and led a club. West elected to discard a diamond. Dummy won, and declarer now ruffed a club with the jack of trumps and a spade to the king provided the entry for another club ruff, establishing the suit. This was the position:

uA J

vA K

w10 9

x -- xQ 8

u8 7 2 uK 10 5 3

vQ J 10 7 v3

w -- w --

x --

uQ 9 4

v9 8 6 2

w --

Declarer crossed to the king of diamonds and played a club. East could score his two trump tricks but no more — just another routine flat board!

2010 Tribune Media Services