bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 10

u8 6 3

vA 6 4

wK 10 9 7 3

WEST EAST

x9 6 5 2 x8 7 4

uQ 9 2 uK 10 5 4

vK 10 5 2 vQ 8 3

w8 2 wA 5 4

SOUTH

xA Q J 3

uA J 7

vJ 9 7

wQ J 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of v

Study the play of this deal. Did someone err? If so, who?

The normal contract of three no trump was reached in short order. West led his fourth-best diamond, declarer played low from dummy and East’s queen won the trick. The eight of diamonds was returned, covered by the nine and ten and ducked in dummy, and a third round set up the king in West’s hand.

Declarer forced out the ace of clubs, East won and shifted to a heart. Declarer won with the ace and cashed his winners for 10 tricks. What’s your verdict?

Not one, but two errors were made. East can tell from the opening lead that West has led from a four-card suit. To defeat the contract East must find greener pastures. East must shift to a low heart at trick two and the defense can set up three tricks in the suit and the defenders score three hearts to go with the diamond trick already banked and the ace of clubs.

However, this information is also available to declarer. He can assure the contract by rising with the ace of diamonds at trick one and forcing out the ace of clubs. The defenders can score only four tricks before declarer takes his nine.

2012 Tribune Media Services