bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xK 8

uQ 7 6 3

vK 9

wA K J 7 6

WEST EAST

xA 9 6 5 4 xQ 7 3 2

uK 8 5 uA J 10 4

vA 6 vJ 8 7

w8 5 2 w4 3

SOUTH

xJ 10

u9 2

vQ 10 5 4 3 2

wQ 10 9

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass 2v Pass 2NT

Pass 3v Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Four of x

Unusual plays sometimes strike gold, even if only because you can fool two opponents, but only one partner. Mike Passell held the West cards on this deal from the Mitchell Board-a-Match teams at the recent ACBL Fall North American Championships.

South’s ultra-light weak two opening bid made it difficult for East-West to enter the auction, and three diamonds became the contract at both tables. At one table the contract was made when declarer held his losers in both diamonds and spades to one trick.

At the other table, Mike Passell found the perfect time to underlead his ace of spades. Not surprisingly, declarer played low from dummy and East’s queen won. The spade return was taken by West’s ace. The defense took the ace and king of hearts and ace and king of spades and West exited with a heart.

Declarer knew he was a trick behind the other table because of the lead at trick one, so he elected to attack trumps by leading low to the queen, but this was the wrong time to try to catch up and ended down two. At the other table three diamonds was just made and Passell’s team went on to win the event.

2012 Tribune Media Services