bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xK J 7 4

uJ 9 6

vJ 9 8 7

wA K

WEST EAST

xA Q 6 2 x10 3

uQ 10 5 3 2 uA K 7

vA 4 vK 10 6 5 3 2

wQ 9 wJ 8

SOUTH

x9 8 5

u8 4

vQ

w10 7 6 5 4 3 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1v Pass 2w Pass

2NT Pass 3w Pass

3NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of v

This deal is from a World Championship team match between Norway and the Netherlands a couple of years ago. The Norwegian bidding needs some explanation. The psychic two-club response was momentarily successful and North-South would have made three clubs if allowed to play there. Not surprisingly, though, North hoped for an entry to partner’s long suit and it was East-West who ended up with nine tricks — down five undoubled!

This was the bidding in the other room:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w 1v 3w Dbl

Pass 3v Pass Pass

Pass

Here the bidding was even more exotic. North’s one club opening showed either four or more clubs and an unbalanced hand or a good hand. South made a pre-emptive jump raise over East’s one diamond overcall (no argument about the meaning of that bid!) West doubled for takeout and East’s three diamonds closed the auction and that resulted in a missed major-suit game.

The defense matched the bidding. North won the club opening lead and immediately shifted to a trump. Declarer captured the queen with the ace, finessed the ten of trumps, cashed the king and then took four rounds of hearts, discarding his club loser as North ruffed to make 11 tricks.

A net score of 100 to the Netherlands to win 3 IMPs on the deal.

2012 Tribune Media Services