bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x7 5 3 2

u8 7

vA J 4

wJ 9 6 3

WEST EAST

xQ J 10 8 4 xK

u6 5 3 uA K Q 10 9 4 2

vK 7 6 v8 5 3 2

w7 2 w4

SOUTH

xA 9 6

uJ

vQ 10 9

wA K Q 10 8 5

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass 4u 5w Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of x

Prospects for five clubs were not bright when dummy appeared. However, declarer uncovered a lie of the cards that would permit the contract to steal home and made no mistake in technique.

With partner a passed hand and West an unknown quantity, South’s five-club overcall was not without considerable risk. Nevertheless, it was reasonably clear that North would not be able to reopen, so South decided that discretion was certainly not the better part of valor in this case.

West led the queen of spades in an attempt to develop tricks for the defense in some suit other than hearts, since it was reasonably clear that one heart trick was all declarer was likely to lose. When dummy hit the table, declarer was faced with the possibility of losing two spades and a heart, besides needing a winning diamond finesse.

The king of spades from East offered some hope. Declarer took the ace, drew trumps in two rounds with the top clubs and then ran the queen of diamonds. When that held, the diamond finesse was repeated and the ace was cashed to clear the suit from both dummy and the closed hand.

Now declarer led the seven of hearts. Down to nothing but red cards, East could do no better than win and continue with a heart higher than dummy’s eight. Instead of ruffing, declarer discarded one of his remaining spades. No matter whether East continued with a diamond or a heart, he would be conceding a ruff-sluff. Declarer discarded a spade while ruffing on the table. South claimed the rest, having lost only two heart tricks!

2011 Tribune Media Services