bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x9 4 2

uA 10

vK 6 5 3

w8 7 5 2

WEST EAST

x7 SxK J 8 5 3

uQ 6 4 u9 5 3

vQ 7 4 vA J 9

wA K Q 10 6 3 wJ 4

SOUTH

xA Q 10 6

uK J 8 7 2

v10 8 2

w9

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1w Pass 1x Pass

2w Pass 2v Pass

3w Pass Pass 3u

Dbl Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of w

Here’s another deal from the 2010 European Championship. It might seem that South would be quite happy to defend a partscore with the hand. However, he decided that he had ample strength to compete when the opponents’ auction died at the three-level, and chose to bid three hearts. West’s double ended the auction.

Had West shifted to a diamond at trick two, the contract would certainly have been defeated. An opening lead of a spade would have been even better, probably resulting in down two.

However, West chose to continue with clubs. Declarer ruffed and led a heart to the ten, which held. The ace of trumps was cashed and the nine of spades was led, covered by the jack and won with the queen.

Declarer now drew trumps with the king and then ran the eight of diamonds to East’s nine and back came the five of spades. Declarer finessed the ten and West discarded a club. With East down to three spades to the king and the A J of diamonds declarer played his remaining trump. East could do no better than discard a spade, so declarer could play ace of spades and another and East had to give declarer the fulfilling trick! Bridge is a wondrous game.

2011Tribune Media Services