bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x10 6 3

u5 4

v9 3

wA K J 10 9 8

WEST EAST

x5 4 xQ 9 7 2

uK Q 2 uA 10 9 8

vA Q 10 8 6 vJ 7 4 2

w4 3 2 w6

SOUTH

xA K J 8

uJ 7 6 3

vK 5

wQ 7 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of u

This deal is from a tournament in Rotterdam. North-South were playing 12-14 point notrump opening bids and the auction was soon over as North gambled on a likely six tricks being enough to bring home nine.

With a diamond lead declarer would have had an easy ride home but West, correctly, elected to get a look at the table and started with the king of hearts! East overtook with the ace and returned the ten, and declarer tried to block the suit by covering with the jack. West won and returned a heart and the defenders started with four heart tricks. Next came a diamond through the king and the defense started with the first nine tricks — down five. Note that, with a diamond lead or, for that matter, a black-suit lead, declarer can run nine tricks before the opponents regain the lead.

2012 Tribune Media Services