bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xK 7 6

u4 2

vK 8 2

wA K J 10 8

WEST EAST

xA J 4 x8 5 3

uQ J 10 8 7 u9 6 5

vJ 3 vQ 10 7 4

w7 5 3 wQ 6 2

SOUTH

xQ 10 9 2

uA K 3

vA 9 6 5

w9 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1w Pass 1v

1u Pass Pass Dbl

Pass 2w Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of u

Little things can mean a lot at the bridge table. When you have two ways to develop tricks, choosing the right one can make a world of difference.

Note the auction. Is South’s double of one heart for takeout or penalties? Since South can have no more than four hearts except in the event of holding a strong 5-6 in the red suits it is unlikely that, sitting in front of the overcaller, South can be sure of inflicting a substantial penalty at the one-level. Nor can it be a one-suited takeout. Logically it is a strength-showing bid asking North to describe his hand further. When North rebid clubs, South continued on to the no-trump game.

West led the queen of hearts. Since tricks must be developed in both black suits to come to nine tricks, which should declarer tackle first, or is it immaterial?

To answer that question, you have to decide which defender poses a threat to the contract. Here, obviously, West is the danger hand — the one to be kept off lead at the crucial time. Therefore, West’s entry must be attacked first. By the simple expedient of taking a finesse, South can guard against the queen of clubs being an entry to the West hand, so you must start by tackling the spade suit.

There is one precaution declarer should take — allow the queen of hearts to win the first trick. The heart continuation is won in hand and a low spade is led to the king. Almost surely, in light of the overcall that will win. Since one spade and four clubs together with four tricks in the red suits will land the game, declarer simply plays clubs from the top assuring four tricks no matter how the suit is distributed. With the diamond suit providing access to both hands, South can guarantee nine tricks.

2011 Tribune Media Services