bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xQ 4

uJ 5 2

vA 7 6 2

wA 8 5 3

WEST EAST

x10 xJ 7 5 2

uA K Q 4 u10 9 8

v8 3 v10 9 5 4

wK Q 9 6 4 2 wJ 7

SOUTH

xA K 9 8 6 3

u7 6 3

vK Q J

w10

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w Pass Pass 2x

Pass 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: King of u

The technique required by South to land his four-spade contract crops up amazingly often. It should be automatic no matter how simple the contract seems.

Note South’s jump to two spades in the balancing seat. That is not a weak jump overcall but shows a hand of sound opening bid strength and at least a good six-card suit. Hence North’s raise to the spade game.

West took his three heart tricks then shifted to the king of clubs, won by dummy’s ace. Here’s how Trump Coup Tommy would tackle the hand. The key to success is to ruff a club at the fifth trick. Next, Tommy would test trumps by cashing the ace and continuing with a low trump to the queen, and when West discards a club, Tommy would be in his element.

Another club ruff would reduce Tommy’s trumps to the same length as East’s. The king and queen of diamonds are cashed and the knave is overtaken with the ace. Now, the K 9 of trumps are poised over East’s J 7. A plain card is led from the table and, whether East ruffs high or low, the defenders cannot score more than their three heart tricks.

It is easy enough to spot the need for a trump reduction when you have six trumps. However, it can sometimes be necessary with a seven-card suit, as the great Pietro Forquet demonstrated some 40 years ago!

2011 Tribune Media Services