BRIDGE
BRIDGE
North-South vulnerable. South deals.
NORTH
xA 9 5 3
u7 2
vJ 8 7
w9 6 5 2
WEST EAST
xQ 10 4 xJ 7 2
uK 9 5 uJ 10 8 3
vQ 10 6 3 v9 5 2
wK J 8 wQ 4 3
SOUTH
xK 8 6
uA Q 6 4
vA K 4
wA 10 7
The bidding:
SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST
2NT Pass 3w Pass
3u Pass 3NT Pass
Pass Pass
Opening lead: Four of x
In recent years, more and more foreign bridge stars have established homes in the United States, among them one of the world’s all-time great stars, Benito Garozzo of Rome, who also had a residence in Palm Beach, Fla. Sitting South on this deal was his dear friend, the late Lea Dupont.
North-South were using a 20-22 range for opening two no trump. When a Stayman sequence determined that South held the “wrong” major, Dupont became declarer at game on a combined minimum count.
West found the best lead of a spade — a suit that gave nothing away while attacking dummy’s only entry. Declarer captured East’s jack and immediately ducked a club, taken by East’s queen. A spade continuation would have been best but that did not look promising, so East shifted to the jack of hearts.
Declarer made a good play by rising with the ace of hearts, then played off the ace of clubs and another, and was delighted to find both the suit breaking evenly and West forced to win the trick. West reverted to the queen of spades, which was allowed to hold, and declarer won the spade continuation with the ace, setting up the nine.
South cashed dummy’s two black-suit winners, discarding two hearts from hand while the defenders both pitched a card from each red suit. Reading the hand perfectly, declarer exited with a heart to the queen and king. West did manfully by returning the ten of diamonds, but declarer had just one play — the jack was inserted and, when it held, nine tricks were in the bag — beautifully played by a beautiful person.
2012 Tribune Media Services