bridge


January 31, 2012 at 12:00a.m.

bridge

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xK 10

uA 5 3

v8 5 4 3

wQ J 5 2

WEST EAST

xQ J 9 x2

u8 4 uK Q J 10 7 6 2

vQ J 7 2 vA

w8 6 4 3 wK 10 9 7

SOUTH

xA 8 7 6 5 4 3

u9

vK 10 9 6

wA

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

4u 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Eight of u

In the forthcoming weeks we will be presenting deals from the ACBL Fall North American Championships held two months ago in Seattle. This deal is from the Life Master Open Pairs.

Declarer won the opening lead with the ace and immediately ruffed a heart in hand. The ace and king of trumps were cashed and a diamond was led, East winning the ace and exiting with a club.

Declarer ruffed and conceded a trump. West was forced to exit with a club, covered by the jack and king and ruffed in the closed hand. Declarer now exited with a diamond, endplaying West into returning a minor suit and giving South his fulfilling trick in one of the minors.

At one table East ended up in five hearts doubled. South led the ace of spades, cashed the ace of clubs shifted to the nine of trumps. To defeat the contract three tricks North had to hold up the ace of hearts to prevent the eight from becoming a dummy entry! Try it.

2012 Tribune Media Services