bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA Q

u8 6 5

vK Q 10 7 5 4 3

w6

WEST EAST

x9 8 4 3 x7 6 5

uQ 10 uA 9 7 3 2

vA 9 6 vJ 8 2

wQ 10 9 3 w5 2

SOUTH

xK J 10 2

uK J 4

vVoid

wA K J 8 7 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1v Pass

1x Pass 3v Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of u

The auction was straightforward enough on this deal from an interclub match and suggested a heart lead, and West duly attacked with the queen. East encouraged with the seven and declarer won with the king. A spade to the ace provided the entry for a losing club finesse. West won with the queen and reverted to a heart, ducked by East. Declarer was now on easy street and ended up with 10 tricks.

The contract and play to the first two tricks were the same at the other table, but West found a better defense. After winning the queen of clubs he shifted to a spade, attacking declarer’s communications. Declarer overtook the queen with the king, cashed the ace and king of clubs and conceded a club to the ten as East parted with the jack of diamonds.

West now continued his fine defense by cashing the ace of diamonds, forcing declarer to part with a black-suit winner. West exited with a spade. Declarer could cash his winners, but West continued his fine defense by sluffing the ten of hearts so, at the end, declarer had to concede two heart tricks — down one!

2011 Tribune Media Services