bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xA Q J 5 3

uA 6

v9

wA J 10 8 7

WEST EAST

xK 9 4 2 x7

uQ 7 5 uK J 10 9 8 2

vA Q J 10 6 v7 5

w9 w6 4 3 2

SOUTH

x10 8 6

u4 3

vK 8 4 3 2

wK Q 5

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

2u Pass 3u 4u

Pass 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Five of u

This deal is from the Marsha May Sternberg Women’s Board-a-Match teams at the recent Fall ACBL North American Championships held in Seattle. A brave bid by your partner puts you in a four-spade contract, how would you proceed after the lead of a low heart?

At the table, declarer won the first trick with dummy’s ace of hearts, crossed to the king of clubs and led the ten of trumps, covered by the king and taken with the ace as East produced the seven. Declarer cashed the queen of spades and, when the suit broke 4-1, tried to cross to the queen of clubs, intending to take a finesse for the nine of trumps. What followed was mayhem.

West ruffed the club, led a heart, won by East who returned another club for West to ruff. Unlucky yes, but careless declarer play provided an assist. Had South ducked the heart at trick one, East would have had no entry to allow another club to be led and the contract would sail home.

2012 Tribune Media Services