bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. East deals.

NORTH

xA 10

uA K J 8 7

vK 7 2

wK J 6

WEST EAST

x7 3 xQ 8 6 4 2

u9 2 uQ 10 5 4

vJ 8 5 4 vQ 10 9 6

wQ 10 9 4 2 wVoid

SOUTH

xK J 9 5

u6 3

vA 3

wA 8 7 5 3

The bidding:

EAST SOUTH WEST NORTH

Pass 1w Pass 1u

Pass 1x Pass 2v

Pass 2NT Pass 6NT

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Nine of w

North-South were a trifle ambitious to get to a small slam on this deal from a duplicate pairs event with only a combined 31 HCP, but the two five-card suits were some compensation. West’s choice of the lead of the ten of clubs into South’s suit was disastrous (a low club might have been better), and declarer was quick to take advantage of it.

Dummy’s jack of clubs won the first trick as East parted with a spade. The ace of spades was cashed and the ten was overtaken with the jack as East followed low and a low club was covered by the nine and taken with the king. Next came the six of clubs ducked to West’s queen.

Declarer now had 11 tricks — four clubs, three spades and two in each red suit — so a simple squeeze against East was going to work. Not surprisingly, plus-990 was an absolute top score.

2012 Tribune Media Services