bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x3

uK J 5 3

vQ 6 4 2

wQ J 10 9

WEST EAST

xJ 10 2 x9 8 6 5

uQ 10 uA 8 7 6 4 2

vA J 7 5 3 vK 10 9

wK 5 2 wVoid

SOUTH

xA K Q 7 4

u9

v8

wA 8 7 6 4 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass Pass 2u 4w

Pass 5w Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Queen of u

This deal is from the Bracketed KO Teams event at the ACBL Fall North American Championships held in Seattle. Sitting East on this deal, reported by Brian Senior, was former world champion Fred Hamilton.

Obviously, East’s two hearts was weak and South’s jump overcall showed a good hand with 5-5 in the black suits. North had an easy raise to game.

West led the queen of hearts, covered with the king and won with the ace. The problem is simple — if the singleton heart is with West, East must give him his ruff immediately. If declarer holds the singleton, to continue with a heart would allow declarer to get rid of his diamond loser.

Hamilton found the solution — he switched to the king of diamonds, giving his partner the opportunity to signal with a high diamond for a heart continuation or to discourage hearts with a low diamond. West had no problem following with the three of diamonds, and West’s trump trick spelled down one.

2012 Tribune Media Services