bridge
bridge
Neither vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xK 5
uQ 10 6
vA K J 7 6
w10 8 3
WEST EAST
x4 2 xJ 8 6 3
uA K J 9 8 2 u7 5 4
v9 4 v8 5 2
wK 6 5 wQ J 9
SOUTH
xA Q 10 9 7
u3
vQ 10 3
wA 7 4 2
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
1x 2u 3v Pass
4v Pass 4x Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of u
The defense usually doesn’t have much to work with. It is their bounden duty to make the most of their assets. Consider this deal from a World Mixed Pairs Championship, where 167 of the 195 pairs who played the deal scored either three no trump, which was unbeatable, or four spades.
Defending against four spades, West led the king of hearts and shifted to the five of clubs! Declarer played low from dummy and captured East’s nine with the ace. Declarer led a trump to the king and East followed with the six! On the trump continuation East produced the eight and, not unnaturally declarer, who had considered taking a finesse, won with the queen and cashed the ace. When West did not show up with a third spade, declarer had to lose two clubs and a trick in each major — down one.
2012 Tribune Media Services