bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x8 6

uJ 4

v6 4 3

wA 9 8 6 5 3

WEST EAST

xA J 5 3 xQ 7 4 2

uA K 6 5 2 uQ 8 7 3

vQ 8 vK J 7

wQ 7 w10 4

SOUTH

xK 10 9

u10 9

vA 10 9 5 2

wK J 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

3w Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

“Curious hand,” remarked the kibitzer. “It seems both sides can make game at three no trump.” This deal from the World Junior Championship a while back occasioned the comment.

After North opened the bidding with a club pre-empt, South gambled on the club fit to produce enough tricks for the no-trump game. West attacked with the king of hearts, asking for count, and East started an echo with the eight. West continued with the ace and, when East produced the three, West decided that East held only two hearts and declarer four, so he shifted to the ace of spades. East discouraged with the two, and West next tried the queen of diamonds.

Declarer won with the ace and ran six club tricks by cashing the king and continuing with the jack, overtaken with the ace. When East endeavored to hold onto spades and discarded both the king and jack of diamonds, declarer took the rest of the tricks.

At the other table North passed originally and East became declarer at three no trump after West opened with a strong one club and made no effort to locate a major-suit fit after East’s positive one no trump response. South led a diamond, won in the closed hand. Declarer led a spade to the knave, cashed the ace and conceded a spade to the king. South decided to set up some diamond tricks so continued with the ace of diamonds and another. That meant 10 tricks for East-West for a score of 630 and a gain of 14 IMPs on the deal.

2012 Tribune Media Services