bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 9 7 5 3 2

u7 5

v10 5

wA 8 2

WEST EAST

xJ 10 8 4 x6

u9 uK J 8 6 3 2

vK 6 2 vQ 4 3

wQ 10 6 4 3 wJ 9 5

SOUTH

xK Q

uA Q 10 4

vA J 9 8 7

wK 7

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1v Pass 1x Pass

2u Pass 2x Pass

2NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Four of w

Count your tricks before settling on a line of play. Sometimes you might have to switch horses in midstream.

South’s reverse sequence was forcing to three diamonds or two no trump. Since three spades could be passed and a jump to four spades might catch South with only a singleton trump in support, North elected to bid three no trump.

Declarer won the opening club lead in hand and cashed the king and queen of spades. When East discarded a heart, declarer had to hope that East held either both missing diamond honors or a doubleton king or queen. Declarer crossed to the ace of clubs and ran the ten of diamonds. West won and cashed the clubs before exiting with a heart. When the queen of diamonds did not drop under the ace, the contract went down three, declarer being forced to discard hearts on the run of the clubs.

Declarer has two tricks in the red suits and two clubs. To make the contract, declarer needs either five spade tricks or three more diamond tricks and two spades. Also, declarer can afford to give up the lead only once!

Since there is no problem if spades are 3-2, declarer can cash the king of spades and overtake the queen with the ace. If both defenders follow, declarer surrenders a spade. Nine tricks are then easy, since the ace of clubs is still in dummy as an entry to the winning spades. If the spades are 4-1, declarer abandons the suit and runs the ten of diamonds to West’s king. The club return is won in dummy, the diamond finesse is repeated and, if the cards lie as in the diagram, nine tricks come creeping in the back door.

2012 Tribune Media Services