bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xK 6 3 2

uA 3

vK Q

wA 9 5 4 2

WEST EAST

xQ 10 8 7 xJ 5 4

uK 7 u9 8 6 2

v10 4 vA J 7 5 2

wQ J 10 7 6 wK

SOUTH

xA 9

uQ J 10 5 4

v9 8 6 3

w8 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

Pass 1w Pass 1v

Pass 1x Pass 2u

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Queen of w

Games and slams are not always the most exciting hands at the bridge table. Follow the play and defense on this humble two-heart contract. Sitting North-South were Russ Ekeblad and Ron Sukoneck, pitted against Sabine Auken and Tommy Sanders.

North’s one club opening was forcing and the one diamond response was negative, showing 0-7 high-card points. South’s two heart bid bought the hand.

The queen of clubs was led to dummy’s ace and East’s king. The king of diamonds was taken by the ace and a trump was returned to dummy’s ace. Declarer cashed the queen of diamonds, led a spade to the ace and continued with a diamond. West ruffed with the king of trumps and returned the jack of clubs. East ruffed and returned a trump, stranding declarer with a diamond loser.

Declarer ran trumps, bringing about this position:

xK 6

u —

v—

w9

xQ 10 xJ 5

u — u —

v — v J

w10 w —

x9

u5

v9

w —

When declarer led her last trump, the defenders were ruined. West had to keep a club and, when the club was discarded from the table, East could not guard against declarer’s diamond and dummy’s second spade. The second overtrick gave North-South 24 of 25 matchpoints on the board!

2012 Tribune Media Services