bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 7 2

uJ 9 5 3

vA K 8 2

wQ 4

WEST EAST

xQ 10 3xJ 8

uA K 7 u2

vQ 6 5 4 vJ 10 9 7 3

wJ 6 2 wA 10 9 8 3

SOUTH

xA 9 6 5 4

uQ 10 8 6 4

vVoid

wK 7 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2v Pass

2u Pass 3u Pass

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

Cardinal Morton, Chancellor of the Exchequer for Henry VII, had a simple rule for taxing merchants. If they lived well, they obviously had money and could afford a heavy impost. On the other hand, if they scrimped it was obvious they were hoarding their wealth and were equally able to pay substantial taxes. The bridge coup featured here is named after the worthy cardinal — the Morton’s Fork Coup.

Four hearts became the final contract at both tables of a team match, and at both tables West started by cashing the ace and king of hearts and then shifted to a diamond. At one table declarer won in dummy with the king, discarding a club from hand and, in the fullness of time, declarer lost a trick in each black suit to go with the two trumps — down one.

At the other table declarer ruffed the diamond in hand, crossed to the table with the jack of trumps, drawing the last trump in the process, and led a club, impaling East on Morton’s Fork. If East rose with the ace of clubs, declarer eventually would be able to discard a spade on the king of clubs, then ruff a spade. If the suit did not set up, declarer would be able to discard two spades on the top diamonds.

Failing to rise with the ace proved no better. Declarer won with the king, entered dummy with the king of spades and then discarded two clubs on the top diamonds. When spades proved to be 3-2, declarer simply conceded a spade and claimed the balance.

2011 Tribune Media Services