bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 8 4

uA J 7

vQ 7

wK Q 9 5 4

WEST EAST

xK 6 3 xQ 9 5

uK 10 9 2 u5

vK 10 9 5 vJ 8 6 4 2

w10 8 wJ 7 6 3

SOUTH

xJ 10 7 2

uQ 8 6 4 3

vA 3

wA 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 2w Pass

2u Pass 4u Pass

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of w

This deal is from the Gold Cup final, Britain’s premier team event. In both rooms, the final contract was four hearts. In the other room, the opening lead was a diamond and, after the queen of diamonds won, careful play by declarer landed the contract

Here, declarer won the lead in hand and led a heart to the jack, which won.

Declarer continued with the ace and discovered the bad break. The contract can still be made.

Declarer must cash the king of clubs and exit with a trump. West can take his other trump but is then endplayed. Try it.

Instead, declarer cashed both dummy’s top clubs, discarding a diamond from hand. West ruffed the queen with his remaining trump winner and exited safely with a diamond club, cashed his remaining trump winner and exited safely with a diamond. That stranded declarer with two spade losers to go along with the two trump losers.

2012 Tribune Media Services