bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK J 10

u8 5 2

vA K J

w10 8 7

WEST EAST

x8 4 x9 7 6 5 2

uK Q J 7 6 4 3 u9

v10 4 v7 6 5 3 2

wQ 2 w6 5

SOUTH

xA Q 3

uA 10

vQ 9 8

wK J 9 4 3

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT 3u 6NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

Before reading on, cover the East and West hands and decide how you would play six no trump after the lead of the king of hearts.

North-South get to slam on a straightforward power auction, brushing aside West’s pre-empt. The probable club distribution is 3-1 and, judging from the auction, West is likely to hold only one club so, if the queen does not appear when declarer leads a club to the ace, the finesse on the way back seems to be the winning play. However, declarer should not be in a hurry to make a decision in clubs until he knows more about the hand.

To start this process, declarer should allow West to hold the first trick and win the continuation, noting East’s discard. Next come three spades tricks followed by three diamonds, West discarding a heart on the third trick in each suit. Declarer now knows all he needs to know about the hand. From the play so far, declarer has learned that West started with seven hearts, two spades and two diamonds so he has precisely two clubs. The finesse in that suit has become unnecessary. Declarer simply cashes the two top clubs and learns that an early finesse in that suit would have been disastrous — six no trump bid and made!

2011 Tribune Media Services