bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA J 10 7 4

u7 5 3

v5 3 2

wA 3

WEST EAST

x3 x5 2

uQ uK J 10 9 6 2

vJ 8 vQ 10 9 7 4

wQ J 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 wVoid

SOUTH

xK Q 9 8 6

uA 8 4

vA K 6

wK 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x 4w 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of w

“South starts out with 10 tricks at his four-spade contract. However, a ruff by East at trick one reduces that number to nine. Your task, Mr. Phelps, is to recover that missing trick. As usual, should you or your men fail, the World Bridge Federation will deny all knowledge of your action!”

North-South had no problem reaching game in spades despite West’s pre-empt. Although South had a strong holding, there was no way to proceed when North could do no more than compete with four spades over four clubs.

After the opening lead of the queen of clubs, declarer covered with dummy’s ace and East ruffed. How should you proceed?

If you followed from hand with a low club before stopping to plan your campaign, it is already too late. There is no way to avoid losing three tricks in the red suits against best defense. To make your game you will need an endplay, and only West can be trapped. The first stage in your campaign must be to jettison the king of clubs at trick one!

Suppose East returns a trump, as good as any. Win and cash all your red-suit winners and, since West has followed to the trump and the three red cards, you know he is down to nothing but clubs. The time has come to throw West on lead by exiting with a club!

On West’s forced club return, discard a diamond from dummy and a heart from hand. That completes the defensive book. On the next club lead, ruff on the table while discarding your remaining heart. Now you can ruff two hearts in hand and a diamond on the table to collect the rest of the tricks!

2012 Tribune Media Services