bridge
bridge
North-South vulnerable. North deals.
NORTH
xJ 9 8
u7 5
vA K 7 5 2
wA 10 8
WEST EAST
x10 5 xA Q 6
uK 2 uJ 10 9 8 6
v10 8 4 vQ J 9 3
wK Q 7 5 4 3 w2
SOUTH
xK 7 4 3 2
uA Q 4 3
v6
wJ 9 6
The bidding:
NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST
1v 1u 1x Dbl
Rdbl 2u 3x Pass
4x Pass Pass Pass
Opening lead: King of u
East’s overcall in the one suit he really didn’t want led proved costly when West attacked with the king of hearts. Declarer, British expatriate bridge columnist and now New Yorker Barry Rigal, won with the ace, cashed the queen and crossed to dummy with the king of diamonds, then cashed the ace and ruffed a diamond in hand. A heart ruff was followed by the ace of clubs and a diamond ruff with the king of spades. Another heart ruff ended in this position:
xJ
u—
v7
w10 8
x10 5 xA Q 6
u— u10
v—v—
wK Q w—
x7 4 3
u—
v—
wJ
When a diamond was led from dummy, East could have defeated the contract by ruffing with the six of trumps. However, the defender erred by sluffing his heart. Declarer discarded his club loser, and West was forced to ruff. Now declarer could not be prevented from scoring one more trump trick to wrap up his contract for a good score.
2012 Tribune Media Services