bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xK Q

uQ 9 7 6

vK J 2

wA Q 10 4

WEST EAST

x10 7 6 5 x9 8 4 3 2

uA 2 u8 5

v9 7 6 3 v10 8 5 4

wK J 3 w9 8

SOUTH

xA J

uK J 10 4 3

vA Q

w7 6 5 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1NT Pass 3u Pass

4w Pass 6u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: ?

As Richard Frey, the late chairman of our Editorial Board and editor of ACBL Magazine was wont to say, it’s a fine line that separates genius from lunacy. In which category does today’s West belong?

North’s bid of four clubs was a cue-bid in support of hearts, promising first-round club control, good heart support and a maximum no trump. It would have been a good slam were it not for the duplication of values in spades and diamonds, or if North had held the king of clubs rather than either of the kings in his hand.

Had West selected a normal spade or diamond lead, declarer would have coasted home because of the friendly club position. After drawing trumps, declarer would have had no alternative to taking two club finesses and, as the cards lie, the slam would have rolled home.

Unfortunately for the best-laid plans of bridge declarers, West selected the king of clubs for his opening lead! Declarer jumped on it with the ace and immediately led a trump. All would still have been well had East held the ace of trumps. No luck. West captured declarer’s jack with the ace and shot back the deuce of clubs.

To declarer it was all too apparent. West had started with a doubleton king of clubs and to finesse would permit East to win the jack and return a club for West to ruff — down two. Since this hand popped up in a pair contest, declarer elected to rise with dummy’s queen in an effort to break even with other pairs who bid the slam. Down one — an absolute bottom! No other North-South pair went minus on the board.

2011 Tribune Media Services