bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x6 5

uK Q 10 9

vA 9

wK 10 9 5 2

WEST EAST

xK 10 x8 7 4 2

uA 5 2 uJ 8 7 3

vK Q J 8 5 v7 6 4 3 2

wJ 7 3 wVoid

SOUTH

xA Q J 9 3

u6 4

v10

wA Q 8 6 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1v 1u* 4v 4x

Pass Pass Pass

*hearts and a longer suit

Opening lead: King of v

East’s pre-emptive raise to four diamonds made life difficult for South. Would a double be for takeout? If so, in which suits? North decided that the safest choice was to bid his good five-card spade suit, and he ended in a reasonable spot.

West led the king of diamonds, taken in dummy with the ace as East followed with the deuce, a spade to the queen lost to the king. A club shift now would have sunk the contract. If you presume that declarer cannot have three hearts (he would surely have bid four hearts, the known eight-card fit, rather than speculate on spades, some sort of case can be made for shifting to a club and giving partner two club ruffs. East would have been able to ruff two clubs to go with a trick in each major and set the contract. Unfortunately West tried to cash a diamond, and the game sailed home.

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