Wednesday, March 28, 2012
bridge
East-West vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xK J 9 8 7
uA 6 3
v4
w10 9 5 2
WEST EAST
xVoid x10 3 2
uK 10 9 8 uQ 4
vA J 7 6 3 2 vK Q 10 9 8 5
w8 6 3 wA J
SOUTH
xA Q 6 5 4
uJ 7 5 2
vVoid
wK Q 7 4
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x Pass 4v Dbl
Rdbl 5v Pass Pass
5x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: Ace of v
This deal is from the finals of last year’s Wagar Women’s Teams in Toronto. Could the final contract have been defeated? If so, who was at fault?
North’s four diamonds was a splinter bid, showing good trump support and a singleton in the bid suit. East-West did well to push the contract to an uncomfortable level.
West led the ace of diamonds, ruffed by declarer. Two rounds of trumps were drawn, ending in dummy, and a club was led to the queen. Declarer returned to the table with a trump and reverted to clubs, East winning with the ace. A low heart went to the eight and ace.
Declarer cleared clubs ending in dummy and led a heart. In with the queen, East conceded a ruff-sluff, and declarer’s remaining heart loser vanished — making five-odd. Could it have been different?
Yes! When East first led a heart, she had to lead the queen. Now there is no way to prevent the defenders from collecting two heart tricks for down one!
2012 Tribune Media Services