bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x4

uJ 8 7

vA J 10 6 5

w10 8 7 4

WEST EAST

xK 10 8 6 3 2 xA J 9

u10 6 3 u5 2

v7 3 vK Q 9 8 4

wK 6 wQ 9 5

SOUTH

xQ 7 5

uA K Q 9 4

v2

wA J 3 2

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

2x Pass 3x 4u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Six of x

It might seem that this hand is a simple exercise in dummy play, but the winning line is not all that apparent. In a recent major knockout event, three out of four declarers went down in four hearts.

No South was frozen out of the auction by East’s pre-emptive raise. All four chipped in with four hearts, which bought the hand.

The opening lead at all four tables was a low spade to East’s ace, and all the defenders shifted to a trump. In each case declarer won in hand and ruffed a spade in dummy. Here their ways parted.

The unsuccessful declarers cashed the ace of diamonds, ruffed a diamond in hand and returned to the table by ruffing a spade. The contract could no longer be fulfilled. South came to hand with the ace of clubs to draw the remaining trumps and then exited with a club. Declarer ruffed the spade return and the defenders scored the last two tricks for a one-trick set.

The successful declarer came to hand with the ace of clubs, ruffed the last spade then exited with a club. The defenders were helpless. South accepted the force by ruffing the spade return, drew trumps and conceded another club. Now South could ruff any return by the defense with his last trump and score the long club for his fulfilling trick. This line needed only a 3-2 division in clubs and hearts — not too likely on this auction, but surely better than any other approach.

2011 Tribune Media Services