bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA 8

uK 7 4 3

vA K Q 9 6

wQ 5

WEST EAST

xQ 10 7 6 3 xVoid

uA uQ J 10 9 8 6 5 2

v10 8 3 2 v4

w8 4 3 wJ 10 9 6

SOUTH

xK J 9 5 4 2

uVoid

vJ 7 5

wA K 7 2

The bidding

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v 4u 4x Pass

5x Pass 6x Dbl

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ace of u

Some people never learn. Although all the club members were aware of Trump Coup Tommy’s remarkable propensity for transforming from a card-pusher to a master technician on hands where trumps broke badly, they could not resist doubling with a trump stack. Tommy made mincemeat of them all.

After East’s four-level pre-empt, it was nigh-impossible to bid the hand scientifically. Whatever the meaning of North’s raise to five spades, Tommy felt his holding would offer play for slam. West’s double was grist to Tommy’s mill.

The opening lead of the ace of hearts was ruffed by Tommy and it was clear that the double had to be based on a trump stack. At trick two, therefore, Tommy led a low spade, and when West produced the three, Tommy finessed dummy’s eight! Tommy was not disconcerted by East’s heart discard, and made light of the rest of the play.

Diamonds were started and, when East showed out on the first round, declarer took four rounds of the suit, discarding a club from his hand. Next, Tommy cleared clubs as West followed helplessly. A spade to the ace put Tommy in position to complete his coup. He led a heart from dummy and ruffed with the nine. West could ruff with the ten but down to nothing but two trumps, he was forced to lead away from the queen into Tommy’s K J tenace.

All Tommy lost was one trump trick!

2011 Tribune Media Services