bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA 6

uQ 10 9 6

vA K J 6

wA K 7

WEST EAST

x10 8 5 3 xK 9 7 4 2

u4 2 u5

v9 5 vQ 10 8 2

wQ J 10 4 2 w9 6 3

SOUTH

xQ J

uA K J 8 7 3

v7 4 3

w8 5

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

2NT Pass 3u Pass

4u Pass 5u Pass

6u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of w

South’s excellent slam was cold if either the spade or diamond finesse were to succeed or if diamonds were to split evenly. But South succeeded in bringing home the bacon, despite the fact that all straight-forward lines were destined to lose!

The key to the auction was South’s bid of five hearts. That showed good trumps while denying a control in any side suit. North had ample controls to accept the invitation.

West led the queen of clubs, taken by dummy’s ace. Two rounds of trumps were drawn, a club was led to the king and the suit was eliminated by ruffing dummy’s remaining club. Now declarer led a low diamond.

Had West carelessly followed with the five, declarer would have inserted the six and, when East won, the defender would have been endplayed. Any return would have eliminated declarer’s spade loser, either by a ruff-sluff should East still have a club, or by a lead into a diamond or spade tenace. West defended well by inserting the nine, but that merely delayed the inevitable.

Declarer countered neatly by winning with the ace, returning to hand with a trump and leading another low diamond, covering West’s five with the six. East won, but any return would present declarer with the fulfilling trick.

What if West had produced a diamond higher that the six? Declarer simply inserts the jack and can still claim the contract. If the finesse loses and East started with four diamonds, one of those remaining cards is lower than the six-spot, so the defender again is endplayed.

2011 Tribune Media Services