BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA J 4

uQ 9 5

vK J

wA K Q 10 5

WEST EAST

xK x9 3 2

uA K J 6 4 u8 2

v8 7 6 2 vA Q 9 5 4

w9 6 2 w8 7 3

SOUTH

xQ 10 8 7 6 5

u10 7 3

v10 3

wJ 4

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass Pass 1u

1NT 2v 2x Pass

4x Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

On this deal from a team match, South became declarer at two spades at one table, and four spades at the other. The opening lead was the same at the two tables — the king of hearts. At one table ten tricks were made, at the other eight. Did someone err? You be the judge and settle the case.

Where we watched, East started an echo with the eight. West continued with ace and another heart, and East ruffed. East had no better shift than to a trump and declarer wrapped up 10 tricks in short order.

Give East a charge. The defender should realize that, to beat the game, the defense must collect all four of their red suit winners plus the heart ruff. In order to do so, East must get his partner to shift to a diamond at trick two so, instead of starting an echo, he must follow with his deuce of hearts at trick one. The diamond shift is obvious and, after the defense takes two diamond tricks, East reverts to hearts and the defenders score a high heart and a ruff for five tricks in all — down two.

2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.