bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

x9 7

u9 7 5 2

vA J 7 5 2

wK Q

WEST EAST

xJ 8 2 xK 10 6 4

uA K J 3 uQ 8 4

vQ 8 3 v10 9 6 4

w9 3 2 wA 10

SOUTH

xA Q 5 3

u10 6

vK

wJ 8 7 6 5 4

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass Pass 1NT Pass

Pass 2x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: King of u

This deal is from the Nail Life Master Pairs championship. When West’s weak no trump opening bid was passed round to him, South elected to balance with two spades, showing spades and a minor, and ended up playing there.

The defense started with three rounds of hearts, declarer ruffing. A club to the queen lost to the ace and the club return was won on the table. Declarer came to hand with the king of diamonds and led the jack of clubs, discarding a heart from dummy as East ruffed. This was the position:

x9 7

u —

vA J 7 5

w —

xJ 8 2 xK 10 6

uJ u —

vQ 8 v10 9 6

w — w —

xA Q 5

u —

v —

w8 7 6

East shifted to a trump, ducked to West’s knave and a diamond was returned. Dummy’s ace won and declarer took the spade finesse. When that held and the trumps split, declarer claimed the rest and his contract.

West missed the chance for a rare uppercut. When in with jack of trumps, he should have returned the jack of hearts. East overruffs dummy’s nine with the ten and the contract must fail by a trick. Try it.

2012 Tribune Media Services