bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10 9 2

uQ 10 2

vK 5

wA Q 10 9 4

WEST EAST

xQ 8 7 6 xK J 4 3

u8 7 5 u9 4

vJ 9 4 3 vA Q 10 8

w7 6 wK 3 2

SOUTH

xA 5

uA K J 6 3

v7 6 2

wJ 8 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 2w Pass

3w Pass 3u Pass

4u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Six of x

We continue with our theme of the week — keeping the danger hand off lead. The problem is to spot the threat to the contract and see what can be done about neutralizing it.

Against South’s four-heart contract West makes the normal lead of a low spade. If the king of clubs is onside, declarer has 11 fast tricks. If the club finesse loses and West can regain the lead, the contract will fail if West shifts to a diamond through the king and the ace is with East.

With the problem obvious, the solution is simple. Since a spade is the only fast entry to the West hand, allow the king of spades to hold the first trick! Win the spade return, draw trumps ending in hand and run the eight of clubs, repeating the finesse if necessary. The best the defense can do is score three tricks while declarer collects five trumps, at least four clubs and the ace of spades. Again, a simple holdup is all that’s necessary.

2012 Tribune Media Services