bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x8 7 5

uA J 8

vQ 6 3 2

wK Q J

WEST EAST

xJ 6xQ 9

u10 7 3 uQ 6 5 4

vA K J 10 4 v9 8

wA 8 5 w7 6 4 3 2

SOUTH

xA K 10 4 3 2

uK 9 2

v7 5

w10 9

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 1x Pass

1NT Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of v

The game of bridge has adopted colorful expressions from many sports, particularly boxing. One of the most colorful of them is the uppercut. At its simplest, it is a form of trump promotion. This deal is a perfect example.

Four spades is an easy contract to reach. With a minimum opening bid and a balanced hand, North’s rebid is simple to find. South has an easy rebid and four spades is a fair contract, which will make if the defense gets careless.

West has a little problem on defense. It is obvious to him that he can expect little in the way of help from East. When East signals for a diamond continuation, there is a ray of light, and West was quick to pounce on it.

After cashing a second diamond winner, West cashed the ace of clubs, in case declarer started with a singleton, then reverted to the jack of diamonds. The spotlight moved to East after declarer called for a low diamond from dummy.

The key to the winning defense was West cashing the ace of clubs before reverting to a diamond. Obviously, declarer was going to ruff a diamond, and equally clear was that the defense had no other plain-suit winner. West wanted partner to ruff a diamond, and the queen of trumps was of no use to East other than to discomfort declarer.

East rose to the occasion by uppercutting with her majesty. Declarer overruffed, but West’s knave of trumps was promoted to the setting trick.

2012 Tribune Media Services