bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10 5 4 3

u4

vK J 10 9 2

wQ 10 6

WEST EAST

x9 7 6 xK Q 8

uJ 5 uA 10 8 6

vQ 8 v7 6 5 3

wK J 7 5 3 2 w8 4

SOUTH

xA J 2

uK Q 9 7 3 2

vA 4

wA 9

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 1x Pass

2NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Three of w

Few will argue that the most successful team of the past decade is the one captained by “Nick” Nickell. Here is the captain at work on this deal from the Life Master Pairs years ago.

Nickell had no hesitation in treating his hand as a super-strong notrump holding. He never rebid his six-card heart suit and quickly became declarer at three notrump.

West made his normal lead of a low club and dummy’s ten won the trick. When a heart to the king held, declarer cashed the ace of diamonds and continued with a low diamond and was delighted to see the queen appear. Next came three diamond winners, on which he ditched hearts.

A spade from dummy fetched the king from East, won with the ace, reducing the hands to this position:

x10 5 4

u --

v --

wQ 6

x9 7 xQ 8

u -- uA 10 8

v -- v --

wK J 3 w --

xJ 2

uQ 9

v --

wA

Declarer made no mistake. He cashed the ace of clubs, on which East discarded a spade. Next came the jack of spades. The best East could do was win the queen of spades and cash the ace of hearts. Making 11 tricks gave Nickell 37.5 of 38 matchpoints!

2012 Tribune Media Services