Bridge

Bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x7 6 5 4 3

u8 6

v10 5 4

wK Q 10

WEST EAST

x9 2 xA K Q J 10 8

uA Q 5 4 3 2 u10 9 7

v7 vQ 6 2

w6 5 4 2 w3

SOUTH

xVoid

uK J

vA K J 9 8 3

wA J 9 8 7

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v 1u 1x 3x

4w Pass 4v Pass

5vPass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Nine of x

Study the play of this deal and decide: Was it played at rubber bridge or duplicate?

Against five diamonds West led the top of his doubleton spade. Declarer ruffed in hand and cashed the ace and king of diamonds, West discarding a middling heart on the second round. Once West showed out, the contract could no longer be made. Sooner or later West would gain the lead with the queen of trumps and shoot a heart through declarer’s king and the defenders would score two hearts and the queen of trumps.

It makes no difference what form of game this deal comes from. It should be obvious to declarer that the defenders held a lot of major-suit cards between them, and that a 3-1 diamond break was likely. A safety play was available to assure the contract.

After cashing a high diamond, declarer should cross to dummy with a club and lead another trump, simply covering any diamond East produces. If West can win, there is no entry back to East for a heart lead, and declarer loses only one heart and one diamond to land his contract.

2011 Tribune Media Services