bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xA 9 8

uA K Q 7 4

v10 9 7

wA 10

WEST EAST

xK 4 2 x10 6 5

u8 5 uJ 9 2

vA 8 6 4 2 vK J

w9 6 2 wQ J 8 5 3

SOUTH

xQ J 7 3

u10 6 3

vQ 5 3

wK 7 4

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1x Pass

2v Pass 2x Pass

3u Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of v

This deal is from the Spingold KO Teams at the Summer ACBL National Championships.

The bidding shown features the Polish Club system. One club was either a 12-14 balanced hand or strong.

Two diamonds showed a three-card spade raise and at least 17 high-card points. Two spades showed a four-card suit and 8-10 points, and the rest of the auction was natural.

West chose an excellent time to underlead his ace of diamonds through the strong hand.

The defenders started with two diamonds and a ruff and, when West refused to cover the queen of spades when it was led, the defenders had to score a spade trick — down one.

At the other table North judged the hand as too strong for one no trump, so he opened one heart.

South responded one spade, North jumped to two no trump and three no trump became the final contract.

The contract was unbeatable since declarer could not go wrong as the cards lay even with a diamond lead.

2012 Tribune Media Services