bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xA K 6 2

uK Q 10 7 4

vA 4

w7 3

WEST EAST

x9 8 xJ 10 7 4

u3 u6 2

vQ 10 9 7 2 v8 6 5

wA Q J 9 2 w10 8 5 4

SOUTH

xQ 5 3

uA J 9 8 5

vK J 3

wK 6

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass 1u 2NT 3v

Pass 3u Pass 3x

Pass 4w Pass 6u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

High on the list of conventions that are most abused is the Unusual No Trump, generally employed to show the minor suits. We can tolerate it when it is used to show a hand that is extremely distributional with virtually no defensive strength, or with a powerful two-suiter. But when it is trotted out on hands with some defensive strength, it usually does more harm than good because it draws a blueprint of the holding that can prove a bonanza to declarer.

We do not know what would have happened had West simply passed South’s opening bid. As it was, the Unusual No Trump enabled North-South to launch into a cue-bidding sequence that got them to a reasonable small slam that had several chances, all of which would have led to defeat on any normal line of play.

With the knowledge that West held at least ten minor-suit cards, declarer took what would have been an anti-percentage line under different circumstances. The opening lead was won in hand, another round of trumps was drawn and then spades were tested. When that suit split 4-2, declarer ruffed the last spade, cashed the ace of diamonds and then ran the rest of the trumps.

When dummy’s last trump was played to reduce everyone to three cards, declarer came down to K J of diamonds and K of clubs. West still had to discard from Q 10 of diamonds and A Q of clubs. If West discarded a diamond, declarer would come to two diamonds and surrender only a club trick. If West kept the diamonds and parted with the queen of clubs, a club to the king and ace would force West to lead away from the diamond queen into declarer’s tenace. A foolish bid had converted an iffy slam into a sure thing!

2012 Tribune Media Services