bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x3

uJ 9 8 5

vA 9 5

wJ 10 7 3 2

WEST EAST

xK J 8 5 2 xVoid

uK 2 uA Q 10 7 6 4 3

vK 7 6 4 2 v8

wK wQ 9 8 5 4

SOUTH

xA Q 10 9 7 6 4

uVoid

vQ J 10 3

wA 6

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass 3u 4x Dbl

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: ?

The great Terence Reese wrote: ”There is no such thing as a blind opening lead — just deaf opening leaders!” That is generally true, but we think that this deal is one of the exceptions.

At the table, West led the people’s favorite choice — the king from shortness in the suit partner bid. We have not heard from any one of them since!

The play took about two minutes. Declarer ruffed and ran the queen of diamonds, which held, and continued with a low diamond to the nine. The ace of diamonds was cashed; declarer came to hand by ruffing a heart and led the jack of diamonds, trumped in dummy. Declarer led a club to the ace in the closed hand and then led the ten of spades. West won with the jack but could not stop declarer from taking five spades in hand, three diamonds, a ruff in dummy and the ace of clubs.

By the way, an original trump lead would have given declarer some problems.

2012 Tribune Media Services