bridge

September 29, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x7 5

uQ 9 7 4 2

vA Q 10 8 3

WEST EAST

xA Q J 10 9 6 4 x3 2

uK 10 8 6 u3

vVoid vJ 9 4 2

wK 9 wQ 10 7 6 4 2

SOUTH

xK 8

uA J 5

vK 7 6 5

wA J 8 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT 2x 3v Pass

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of x

It is surprising how much one can learn from the bidding. Consider this deal from the European Women’s Pairs some years ago.

North’s three diamonds showed an invitational hand with hearts as the key suit. With an all-prime hand South chose to bid the heart game. Though four spades would have been a cheap sacrifice, West fancied her defensive prospects and passed.

The opening lead of the ace of spades and another spade did declarer no harm. East echoed to show an even number and declarer placed West with seven spades rather than five since East would likely have raised with four spades. Since West did not compete further, declarer decided that she could expect to find heart length at her left.

Placing faith in her reading of the hand, declarer led the jack of hearts at trick three! The defenders were helpless. West won with the king and tried to weaken declarer’s trump holding with a third spade. Declarer countered by ruffing in dummy, drew trumps with the help of a marked finesse for the ten, conceded a diamond trick to East and claimed 10 tricks. Beautiful!

2010 Tribune Media Services