bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 6

uQ 8 4 3

v9 8

wQ 9 7 6 3

WEST EAST

x8 7 4 2 xA

uA 10 9 6 uJ 7 5 2

vK 5 4 2 vQ J 10 7 6

w8 wK J 4

SOUTH

xQ J 10 9 5 3

uK

vA 3

wA 10 5 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 1NT Dbl

2x 3u Pass Pass

3x Dbl Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Eight of w

This deal from the Kaplan Blue Ribbon Pairs, reported by Barry Rigal, is an interesting lesson in duplicate. Defending three spades undoubled and collecting 100 points for defeating the contract one trick would be a poor matchpoint result, hence West’s double.

West led the eight of clubs, ducked in dummy, and declarer captured East’s jack with the ace. A trump to the king loses to the ace and, placing West with the ace of diamonds, East shifted to the queen of diamonds. Declarer rose with the ace and drew trumps. The defenders could not collect more than four tricks.

Suppose West’s red-suit honors were reversed, East’s defense would have succeeded. As the cards lie, however, the winning defense is for East to return a low club, without releasing the king, giving partner a ruff. Now a low diamond return from West will defeat the contract no matter how the declarer proceeds. Double dummy, you say. Perhaps, but not impossible if you place partner with the ace of hearts and king of diamonds.

2012 Tribune Media Services