BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

x10 8 7 5

uA Q 9 5

v10 9 6 3

w2

WEST EAST

xQ J x6 4

uK 10 2 u7 4 3

vA Q J 7 4 v5 2

wQ 10 6 wA K 9 8 7 4

SOUTH

xA K 9 3 2

uJ 8 6

vK 8

wJ 5 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1NT Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of x

System, position and judgment can make a world of difference to the bidding of many hands. This deal is from a World Bridge Olympiad match between the United States and India.

The U.S. pair sitting East-West playing weak no trump opening bids as above, employed their weapon to effectively shut out the opposition. After a spade lead declarer had to settle for six tricks, down three for minus 150 points.

This was the bidding at the other table:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1vPass 1NT 2x

3v 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Six of w

At this table, the Indian West, playing Precision, judged his hand as too good for a weak no trump, so opened one diamond. The Americans got into the auction and were soon in four spades. The location of the K 10 of hearts allowed declarer to pick up the heart suit via two finesses, and the trumps split 2-2, so declarer romped home losing only three tricks in the minor suits to pick up 10 IMPs on the board and lead the match by 31 IMPs at the end of the first quarter.

2012 Tribune Media Services