bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xA K 6 4 2

u9 3

vK Q 8

wJ 8 2

WEST EAST

xQ 10 7 3 x9 5

u10 7 6 2 uQ J 8 5 4

v7 vA 10 9 5 2

wQ 7 5 3 w6

SOUTH

xJ 8

uA K

vJ 6 4 3

wA K 10 9 4

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass 1w Pass 1x

Dbl 1NT Pass 3NT

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of u

There are times you can determine to which defender you can safely concede a trick. Consider this hand where you have reached a reasonable no-trump game. If you concede a club trick you have eight winners. However, you will then not be able to tackle diamonds later because the opponents will have established enough heart tricks to defeat you.

The solution is to take an avoidance play to keep the danger hand off lead. East’s takeout double is the clue to your success. Win the heart lead in the closed hand perforce, cross to dummy with a spade and lead a diamond away from the king-queen. If East rises with the ace, you have nine tricks — two in each major, three diamonds and two clubs, so East must play low. Now it is time to change horses. Since you have five tricks in the other three suits, you need only four clubs to get home. Simply concede a club trick and coast home with nine winners no matter what the defenders do. Well played.

2012 Tribune Media Services