bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xQ 3

u10 7 5 4 3

vJ 10 6 3

wJ 10

WEST EAST

xK 4 2 xA J 10 8 7 6

uA J 9 uK Q 6 2

v8 vQ

wA Q 8 6 5 2 w7 3

SOUTH

x9 5

u8

vA K 9 7 5 4 2

wK 9 4

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

2w Pass 2v 3v

Pass 4v 4x 5v

Pass Pass Dbl Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Two of x

This deal is from a European invitational pair event. Sitting North-South were Omar Sharif and Zia Mahmood.

They were unlucky enough to have Jeff Meckstroth and Eric Rodwell as their opponents on this deal.

The play did not take long. Meckstroth led a spade, won by Rodwell’s ace.

The shift was to the seven of clubs. West scored the queen and ace of clubs, cashed the king of spades and reverted to clubs.

Declarer tried his best by ruffing high in dummy, but West overruffed and cashed a heart trick — down three for -800.

No other pair found this defense. As so often happens Meckwell, as they are known, went on to win the tournament by a comfortable margin.

2012 Tribune Media Services