bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xJ 3

u10 7

vA 10 3

wK Q J 9 6 3

WEST EAST

xK 9 7 2 xQ 10 6 4

u9 8 5 3 uJ 6 2

v8 7 6 5 vK Q J 9

w7 wA 5

SOUTH

xA 8 5

uA K Q 4

v4 2

w10 8 4 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1v Pass

1u Pass 3w Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of x

Follow the bidding and play of this deal, then decide: Did someone err, or is the result normal?

West led the two of spades, declarer played low from dummy and East inserted the ten, ducked by declarer. East returned the queen of spades, declarer ducked again and East continued with a third spade, forcing out the ace.

Declarer drove out the ace of clubs. The defenders scored a third spade trick to go with the ace of clubs and took a total of three spade tricks and a club and scored only those four tricks. Was the result normal or did someone err?

Actually, there were two egregious errors. The lead looked like it was from a four-card suit, so when East won the first trick, he immediately should have shifted to a diamond, and the contract must fail.

However, declarer made an even worse blunder. His best chance was to find spades divided 4-4, so he should have won the first spade trick with the ace and forced out the ace of clubs. The defenders can score no more than four tricks, and the game coasts home.

2012 Tribune Media Services