BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 7 6 5

u10 9 4

vQ 6 4

wA Q 5

WEST EAST

xK Q J x10 8 4 3 2

uJ 8 6 3 u7

vK 10 9 3 2 vJ 8 5

w10 w9 8 3 2

SOUTH

x9

uA K Q 5 2

vA 7

wK J 7 6 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1u Pass 1x Pass

2w Pass 3u Pass

4NT Pass 5u Pass

6u Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: King of x

It is well to adopt a cautious approach to the play of the hand. Find a distribution that might endanger your contract and then consider what can be done to neutralize it.

We like North’s one spade response rather than a stultifying two no trump. When South showed a second suit, North jump raised partner’s first suit and South was off to the races, and justifiably so.

West led the king of spades and declarer realized that only bad breaks in clubs and hearts could endanger the slam. After careful study, declarer mapped out a farsighted campaign that started with winning the ace of spades and ruffing a spade in hand. Next came two top trumps, and East’s discard on the second appeared to be a mortal blow.

But now declarer’s play at trick two paid off. South crossed to the queen of clubs, ruffed another spade, cashed the remaining trump winner and then ran clubs.

West could ruff at any time, but then would be endplayed into returning a diamond from the king into declarer’s combined A Q tenace. Regardless of what West chose to do, one trump trick was all the defenders could collect.

2012 Tribune Media Services