bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA J 9 4 3

uK Q 5

vA J

wK 4 3

WEST EAST

xVoid xQ 10 8

u10 8 4 3 2 uJ 9

vK 10 6 4 v9 8 7 5 3 2

wQ 10 9 8 wJ 7

SOUTH

xK 7 6 5 2

uA 7 6

vQ

wA 6 5 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 3x Pass

4w Pass 4v Pass

4u Pass 5w Pass

5x Pass 6u Pass

6x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

When faced with a bad break, many declarers develop a panic attack. A far more profitable course to pursue is to search for a distribution that will allow for the contract to be brought home.

North’s jump to three spades was forcing, and all first- and second-round controls in the side suits were located by the cue-bidding sequence that followed. However, there was a distinct possibility that declarer would have a loser in one of the plain suits, except for diamonds, so South wisely settled for the small slam.

West led a low heart and, when dummy appeared, South was delighted that conservatism had paid off. Even the small slam was in jeopardy when, after winning the king of hearts and leading a low trump to the king, spades turned out to be 3-0. Now declarer was looking at a sure trump loser and had to avoid losing a club to get home.

A trump was continued to the ace, the ace of diamonds was cashed and the jack of diamonds was ruffed in the closed hand. The king and ace of clubs were cleared, East following to all these tricks and then came the ace of hearts and a heart to the queen.

The East hand had been reduced to the queen of trumps and nothing but diamonds. If East ruffed, the forced diamond return would allow declarer to ruff in hand while discarding the table’s losing club, so the defender elected to discard a diamond. But that was only a temporary reprieve. Declarer simply exited with a trump and East’s forced diamond return conceded a ruff-sluff and the contract.

2011 Tribune Media Services