BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

x6 5

u9 6 4 2

vA 9 5 4

wA 9 2

WEST EAST

xA Q 8 4 2x10

uK 5 3 uA 10 7

v8 7 6 vK J 10 3

wK 3 wQ J 10 8 7

SOUTH

xK J 9 7 3

uQ J 8

vQ 2

w6 5 4

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

1w 1x Pass Pass

Dbl Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of w

“Some are born great, some become great and some have greatness thrust upon them,” wrote the Bard of Stratford-Upon-Avon. Change “great” to “lucky” and you could have a perfect description of some bridge players. Consider this deal from the Vanderbilt KO Team Championship at the recent ACBL Spring North American Championships held in Louisville, Ky.

Nearing the end of their match the teams captained by Nick Nickell and Lou Ann O’Rourke were in a dead tie. This deal made the difference. In one room, Eric Rodwell made three no trump for the Nickell squad. This was the bidding at the other table, where Zia Mahmood declared one spade doubled for Nickell.

Zia ducked the opening lead of the king of clubs and won the continuation with the ace and led a heart to the king. West switched to the eight of diamonds, won with the king. East reverted to the queen of clubs and, had West sluffed a heart, the contract would have gone down three tricks. However, West discarded a diamond and, when East played another diamond, Zia was able to escape for down two. Try it.

Three down doubled would have given O’Rourke plus 3 imps on the board. Down only two gave Nickell 3 imps — the exact margin by which they won the match.

2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.