bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xJ 5 3 2

uA Q 10 9

vA Q 5

w8 4

WEST EAST

xK 8 6 xQ 4

uJ 7 3 u8 5

vK 9 7 4 2 vJ 3

wA 3 wQ J 10 9 7 6 2

SOUTH

xA 10 9 7

uK 6 4 2

v10 8 6

wK 5

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v 3w Dbl Pass

4w Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of v

This deal is from the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs at the recent Summer North American Championships held in Toronto and reported by Barry Rigal. South was impressed (overimpressed?) with his king of clubs behind the pre-empt and an overambitious game was reached.

West led his fourth-best diamond and, if declarer tried for three tricks in the suit by hoping West’s suit included the king-jack and so runs it to the ten, the game will be defeated. To scrape home, declarer must take the finesse of the queen and draw trumps, ending in dummy, then lead a spade, finessing the nine.

West wins with the king and reverts to a diamond to your ace. Take another spade finesse, clear the suit and exit with a diamond. West can win but is trapped in an endplay — he must either give you a ruff-sluff, or else lead a club. Either way, you have limited your losers to one trick in each suit except trumps. Well done.

2011 Tribune Media Services