bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xQ J 9

u5 2

v8 4 3 2

wA Q 6 5

WEST EAST

x10 7 4 3 2 xK 8

u8 6 4 3 uK J 10 7

vQ 7 vK 10 6 5

wK 8 w10 9 3

SOUTH

xA 6 5

uA Q 9

vA J 9

wJ 7 4 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2NT Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of x

Possession of three aces made the South hand worth a full maximum no trump so, when North invited game, South was happy to bid one. All that remained was to bring it home after the spade opening lead.

The three of spades was covered with the queen and king and taken with the ace. The obvious first move by declarer was to lead a club and take the finesse, which won. Declarer cashed the ace of clubs and when the king dropped, South’s trick total was up to eight.

There is no hurry to take the heart finesse. Should it lose, the contract might be in jeopardy. Correct is to lead a low diamond from the table and finesse the nine! When that loses to the queen, declarer has an extra chance — a second diamond finesse.

West can do no better than continue with a spade. Dummy’s nine is finessed. When that holds, declarer reverts to diamonds, finessing the jack and, when that wins, continues with the ace.

When the king doesn’t drop, West showing out, declarer cashes all his winners, reducing all hands to three cards and ending in dummy. Declarer knows one of East’s cards is the king of diamonds and so the defender can hold only two hearts. Declarer takes the heart finesse and, when the king and jack drop, declarer’s nine becomes his 12th trick.

2012 Tribune Media Services