BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x6 3

u9 7 4

vK Q 5

wQ J 10 8 4

WEST EAST

xK Q 8 xA 10 7 5 4

uA J 8 2u10 5 3

vJ 10 9 8 v7 4 3

w9 5 w6 2

SOUTH

xJ 9 2

uK Q 6

vA 6 2

wA K 7 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NTPass 2NT Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of v

The art of deception requires subtlety. It works best early in the play, before the enemy learns much about the hand. Here is a classic example.

The auction was simple enough. With a balanced 8 points and a goodish five-card minor, North had enough to invite game and South, with a maximum, accepted gratefully.

West led the jack of diamonds won in dummy. Declarer could count eight fast tricks and a ninth could be developed in hearts. There was just one problem — spades were not stopped and, should declarer go after hearts immediately, the defense will switch to spades. When there is a five-card suit available and declarer does not try to develop it, it usually means the suit can be run, so the defenders could place South with both the ace and king of clubs, unless...

Declarer decided to give the defenders a bit of help in their suit. At the second trick, South led a spade from dummy and, when East followed low, inserted the nine from hand, losing to West’s queen. Thinking that declarer was about to set up tricks in spades for the contract, West shifted to a low heart, hoping partner held the king. Unfortunately, not only did South hold that card but it was the fulfilling trick.

Should West have fallen into South’s trap? Not really. The play to the first trick marked South with the ace of diamonds and the fact that declarer did not tackle clubs means the suit is solid. That already gives South eight tricks — five clubs and three diamonds. If South has the ace of spades as well, there are nine tricks available. Therefore West should not have swallowed the bait. Instead of shifting to hearts, West should have called declarer’s bluff and persevered with spades — down two!

2011 Tribune Media Services