bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xK 8 3

u6 2

vA K 7 3

w10 9 4 2

WEST EAST

xQ J 6 x10 9 7 5 4

uQ 8 7 uK 4

vQ 10 5 4 v9

wK Q J wA 8 7 6 3

SOUTH

xA 2

uA J 10 9 5 3

vJ 8 6 2

w5

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass 1u Pass 2v

Dbl 2u 2x 2NT

Pass 3u Dbl Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of w

This deal is from an international pair championship in Europe.

North’s two- diamond response is rather strange and East might have done better to stay out of the auction entirely.

Under the circumstances, it is difficult to fault West, with the best hand at the table, for doubling three hearts.

The opening lead of the king of clubs was allowed to win, and West continued with the queen, ruffed by declarer.

A spade to the king provided the entry to dummy for the lead of a trump to the nine, losing to the queen and another club was ruffed in the closed hand.

Declarer crossed to the king of diamonds to lead another heart, picking up the king.

Since East held little enough for his bidding, declarer decided that he had to have a distributional hand and so led the jack of diamonds, running it when West did not cover.

Three hearts doubled and made with an overtrick!

2012 Tribune Media Services