bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

x7 2

uQ J

vA 5 4 2

wQ 10 8 7 3

WEST EAST

x6 x10 9 8 5 4

u9 8 7 uK 6 5 4 3

vK 10 9 8 6 vQ J 3

wK J 4 2 wVoid

SOUTH

xA K Q J 3

uA 10 2

v7

wA 9 6 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 1NT Pass

3w Pass 4w Pass

4NT Pass 5v Pass

6w Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Ten of v

This deal is from a qualifying round of the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs at the recent ACBL North American Championships in Philadelphia.

How do you fancy your chances at six clubs after a diamond lead?

You win the first trick with the ace of diamonds and lead a trump, and your chances have become slim when East discards a heart.

Cross to dummy with a trump as West follows low and run the queen of hearts, which holds, and continue with the knave of hearts, covered by the king and won in hand.

Now cash the ten of hearts, stripping West of the suit and discarding a spade from the table. It is time to start running spades.

As long as West discards, you sluff diamonds from dummy, then revert to trumps.

If West ruffs low, overruff on the board, return to hand with a diamond ruff and resume cashing spades. If West ruffs with the king and returns a trump, you score the rest of the tricks on a crossruff.

Well done.

2012 Tribune Media Services