bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK Q J 10 6

uA 5 4

vQ J 9

w10 8

WEST EAST

x2 x8 7 5 4 3

uK J 8 3 2 u7 6

vA 7 5 3 2 vK 8

w7 5 wK 6 4 3

SOUTH

xA 9

uQ 10 9

v10 6 4

wA Q J 9 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w 1u 1x Pass

1NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of v

This deal is from the Silodor Open Pairs event at the recent ACBL Spring North American Championships in Louisville, Ky. Sitting North-South were Judith Bianco of New York City and Jim Krekorian of Pensacola, Fla.

The auction to three no trump was simple enough and, as is often the case, it was the overtricks that mattered. West led the three of diamonds, covered by the jack and king and declarer falsecarded with the six. On the diamond continuation declarer continued with the ten and West, short of entries and thinking his partner held a third diamond, elected to duck.

Declarer followed with five rounds of spades and then ran the ten of clubs and continued by repeating the club finesse. Then came the ace of clubs, reducing the hand to this:

x --

uA 5

vQ

w --

x -- x --

uK J u7 6

vA v --

w -- wK

x --

uQ 10

v --

wJ

Now declarer completed West’s misery by exiting with the jack of clubs. If West discarded the ace of diamonds, dummy would score the last two tricks with the ace of hearts and the queen of diamonds. If West discarded the jack of hearts, declarer takes the last two tricks with the ace and queen of hearts. Making 12 tricks was worth 23.5 of 25 matchpoints!

2011 Tribune Media Services