bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xJ 9 8 4

u8 7 5 2

vVoid

wA Q 9 6 2

WEST EAST

xK Q 5 x7

uQ 10 4 uK J 9 6 3

vA Q 7 6 2 v5 4 3

wK 5 wJ 10 7 4

SOUTH

xA 10 6 3 2

uA

vK J 10 9 8

w8 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1v Pass 1u 1x

2u 4x Pass Pass

Dbl Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of u

Bridge players are lucky that the crimes they commit at the table cannot be penalized by incarceration. Were it not for that, West’s crimes on this deal would not have warranted reprieve. With a balanced 16 points, there is no reason for West not to have opened the bidding with one no trump. That would surely have kept North-South out of game. After an opening one no trump and either a two-heart sign-off or a transfer to two hearts, depending on methods, South might not have entered the bidding at all, and if South did act, North probably would have been content with a single raise. And, after North-South did land in an aggressive four spades, West’s double was more macho than any strong conviction that the contract would be defeated.

West led a low heart, and the play did not take long. Declarer won in hand and led the king of diamonds, covered by the ace and ruffed. Declarer returned to hand with the ace of trumps and led the jack of diamonds. Whether or not West covered was immaterial. Declarer had all the diamond spots and would simply continue pushing diamonds through West until the defender covered. The queen would be ruffed away and, with the club finesse working as well, declarer lost only two trump tricks, scoring 690 for four spades doubled and made with an overtrick!

2011 Tribune Media Services