bridge

bridge

East-West vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

xJ 8 2

uA J 6

vQ 4 3

wA K 4 3

WEST EAST

xK 7 6 5 x4

u10 7 5 uQ 9 4 2

vJ 10 9 8 vA K 7 6 2

w7 6 w10 9 8

SOUTH

xA Q 10 9 3

uK 8 3

v5

wQ J 5 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

1w Pass 1x Pass

1NT Pass 3w Pass

3x Pass 4x Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Jack of v

On a good day, South can make 12 tricks at a spade contract. All it requires are winning finesses in spades and hearts. But on those days when you have a black cloud hanging over your head, taking out insurance can be most beneficial.

North-South reached the optimum contract of four spades in routine fashion. South’s jump to three clubs was forcing, a treatment as good as any.

West led the jack of diamonds and, when that won, continued the suit for declarer to ruff. South crossed to dummy with a club to the king and ran the jack of spades to West’s king. When the declarer ruffed the diamond return, control had passed to the defenders and the contract could no longer be made.

The safe way to play the hand is to cross to the ace of clubs at trick three and run the jack of spades. When that loses to the king and West reverts to diamonds, declarer should discard a heart from hand rather than ruff, thereby retaining trump control. If the defenders play a fourth diamond, declarer can ruff in dummy and avoid weakening his trumps further. Then declarer can enter the closed hand, draw trumps and claim the rest of the tricks.

Note that it does not help for West to hold up the king of trumps. Declarer leads another trump and, when East shows out, the nine is inserted. That creates the same position as above. If West refuses the second spade trick, declarer cashes the ace of spades and starts running clubs, and loses only one trick in each suit except clubs.

2012 Tribune Media Services