bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 5 2

u9 7 4

vK 9 6 3 2

w10 2

WEST EAST

xJ 10 9 8 xQ 6 4

uQ 10 8 uJ 6

vJ 8 vQ 10 5 4

wQ 9 8 4 wJ 7 6 3

SOUTH

xK 7 3

uA K 5 3 2

vA 7

wA K 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2v Pass

2u Pass 3u Pass

4w Pass 4v Pass

4x Pass 5x Pass

6u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of x

Before you play to the first trick, count your losers. Here is a case in point. An aggressive cue-bidding sequence landed South in an optimistic slam. First, declarer needed a 3-2 trump break to limit his losers to one trick, so there were only four heart winners to go with six plain suit winners. A club ruff in dummy brings the total to 11, so a diamond trick must be established to bring the total to 12. A 3-3 diamond split would make it easy for declarer, but the percentages favor a 4-2 break. How should you, South, proceed?

Win the spade opening lead in hand. Cash the ace and king of hearts in hand and, when both defenders follow, the first hurdle is surmounted. It’s time for the ace and king of diamonds and ruff a diamond. Whether or not West overruffs is immaterial. Cash the top clubs and enter dummy with a club ruff to trump another diamond. Get to the table with the ace of spades and discard your spade loser on the table’s long diamond. All you lose is a trump!

2012 Tribune Media Services