bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA 5 4

u2

vA K 9 8 7 5 4

wJ 8

WEST EAST

x9 xK Q J 8 3

u9 5 3 u7 6 4

vQ J 6 v10 3 2

wA 10 9 7 6 5 w4 3

SOUTH

x10 7 6 2

uA K Q J 10 8

vVoid

wK Q 2

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

3w 3v 3x 5u

Pass 6v Pass 6u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Nine of x

This deal is from the 1957 National Championships. Sitting South was Charles J. Solomon of Philadelphia. Can six hearts be made?

West’s offbeat three-club opening bid wreaked havoc with the auction and drove South to a poor slam. Declarer won the opening lead in dummy and, after considerable thought, found a lie that offered play. All it required was for West to have specifically a singleton spade, three diamonds and the ace of clubs!

Declarer won the opening lead in dummy with the ace, cashed the ace and king of diamonds and discarded the king and queen of clubs from hand! Next declarer ruffed a diamond and, when the suit broke favorably, setting up dummy’s long cards in the suit, declarer could virtually claim the slam.

Trumps were drawn, declarer discarding dummy’s spade losers, and a club was led toward the jack. No matter what West did, the jack of clubs was going to be an entry to dummy’s good clubs for declarer to discard his three losing spades.

Just another routine slam!

2011 Tribune Media Services