bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA K 10 7 6 3

uA 4

vK Q 9 5

w5

WEST EAST

xQ x9 8 5 2

uQ 6 3 uJ 10 8 5 2

vJ 10 6 4 3 v7

w10 9 8 2 wK 4 3

SOUTH

xJ 4

uK 9 7

vA 8 2

wA Q J 7 6

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2u Pass

2x Pass 4NT Pass

5u Pass 6x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of u

Among the most successful bridge clubs in North America is Jourdan’s in Delray Beach, Fla. On a normal day you will find some 50 tables in the game. This deal is from a recent pair event.

After a transfer sequence, most tables reached a slam in either notrump or spades. Making 12 tricks proved to be no problem. The 13th needed some care. In most cases declarers held themselves to 12 tricks.

Declarer won the first trick in hand and led the jack of trumps, covered perforce by the queen, but the defenders now had a certain trump trick. Correct technique is to lead a low trump and, when the queen appears, declarer is on the way to an overtrick.

Declarer wins and draws trumps, then cashes winners to reach this position with dummy on lead:

x3

u4

v9

w —

x — x —

uQ 6 uJ 10

vJ v —

w — wK

x —

uK 9

v —

wQ

The three of trumps is led, and East is a dead duck. He cannot part with his club, so must discard a heart. Declarer ditches the queen of clubs and it is West’s turn to feel the heat. He must hold the jack of diamonds, so must also shed a heart, and declarer scores two heart tricks.

A classic double squeeze.

2012 Tribune Media Services