bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA J 10 4

uK 9 8 7

vK 6

w8 7 5

WEST EAST

xK Q 8 7 6 xVoid

u10 5 3 uA J 6 2

v10 5 vA Q 9 8 3 2

wQ 6 2 wJ 10 4

SOUTH

x9 5 3 2

uQ 4

vJ 7 4

wA K 9 3

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w 1v Dbl 1x

Pass 2v Pass Pass

Dbl Pass 2x Dbl

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of v

This deal is from a European international tournament. After South’s negative double of the one diamond overcall and another three rounds of bidding South ended up in two spades, much to West’s surprise, and he could not resist expressing his doubt about South’s ability to take eight tricks at a spade contract.

Had West elected to start the defense by leading a high trump, the outcome of this deal might have been different. East won the diamond lead with the queen and shifted to the jack of clubs. Declarer won and returned a diamond to the king and ace. East reverted to a club, won in the closed hand. Declarer continued with a diamond to the king and ace, and East reverted to a club.

Declarer won in hand and led the jack of diamonds. West ruffed low and declarer discarded dummy’s remaining club. A low heart to the seven and jack lost to the queen and declarer ruffed a club on the table. The king of hearts was taken with the ace, bringing about this position:

xA J 10

u9 8

v—

w—

xK Q 8 7 x—

u10 u6 2

v— v9 8 3

w— w—

x9 6 3 2

u—

v—

w9

Declarer needed four of the last five tricks and had no problem. He ruffed the diamond return and West overruffed with the queen, losing to the ace. Declarer ruffed a heart in hand and led the nine of clubs. No matter what West did, one more trump was all declarer could lose.

2011 Tribune Media Services