bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x4

u6 5 3

vA Q J 9 3

wA Q 8 4

WEST EAST

x8 6 3 xQ J 10 2

uA 4 uK Q 8 7

v10 7 6 5 4 v8 2

wK 7 2 wJ 9 3

SOUTH

xA K 9 7 5

uJ 10 9 2

vK

w10 6 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 2v Pass

2u Pass 3w Pass

3NTPass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of w

Here’s another deal from the recent Summer National Championships recently held in Toronto. It was played in the quarterfinals of the Grand National Teams event.

Three no trump was the popular contract, reached on a straightforward auction such as the above. A low club was the popular opening lead, on which you played low from dummy. East wins with the jack and, surprisingly, returns the three. You play the ten (that allows you to take a finesse later, if necessary), covered by West’s king and taken on the table with the ace. You unblock the diamonds by playing low to the king. If the suit breaks favorably, you are coasting home; if not, you will have to guess the club position. You elect to play a low club to the eight, a reasonable choice but disastrous as the cards lie.

East, U.S, internationalist David Berkowitz, won with the nine and the defenders had no problem keeping declarer out of dummy. Declarer ended up down two, for a huge swing when declarer coasted home at the other table.

2011 Tribune Media Services