bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA 9 6 5

uK 4

vQ J 5

wJ 8 5 4

WEST EAST

xJ 8 7 3 xK 4

uJ 10 9 7 uQ 8 6 3

v8 7 6 vK 2

w9 7 wQ 10 6 3 2

SOUTH

xQ 10 2

uA 5 2

vA 10 9 4 3

wA K

The bidding:

WEST NORTHEAST SOUTH

Pass Pass Pass 1NT

Pass 2w Dbl Pass

Pass 3NT Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Nine of w

In the first tournament in the U.S. this writer played in almost a half-century ago, he was partnered by Mike Cappelletti, now of Winter Park, Fla. Mike is still going strong, as this deal from the Nail Life Master Pairs at the ACBL Fall North American championships proves.

After South’s super-strong one-no-trump opening, East doubled North’s Stayman inquiry as a lead-director, and declarer ended in three no trump with West duly leading a club.

Declarer won in hand perforce and, in an effort to promote entries to the table to take diamond finesses, led the queen of spades losing to the king. East returned a club, taken by declarer. The ten of spades was covered by the jack and won with the ace. The queen of diamonds was run, followed by the jack, king and ace.

Declarer now had 11 tricks, but overtricks were a premium. Next came a spade to the seven and nine, East discarding a heart and the diamonds were run, bringing about this position:

x6

uK 4

v—

wJ

x8 x—

uJ 10 9 uQ 8 6

v— v—

w— wQ

x—

uA 5 2

v4

w—

When declarer led his remaining diamond, West was forced to part with a heart, dummy’s now-useless six of spades was ditched and East was squeezed in hearts and clubs. No matter which he let go, declarer would take the last three tricks. Making 12 tricks was worth 62 of the available 64 matchpoints on the deal.

2011 Tribune Media Services