BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Both vulnerable. North deals.

NORTH

x8 4

uA 7

vQ 7 5 4

wA J 5 4 3

WEST EAST

xJ 10 7 5 3 2 xK Q 6

uJ 10 8 4 uK Q 9 3 2

v6 vA 10 9 2

w9 6 w10

SOUTH

xA 9

u6 5

vK J 8 3

wK Q 8 7 2

The bidding:

NORTH EAST SOUTH WEST

Pass 1u 2w 2u

3u Dbl 4w Pass

Pass Dbl Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Jack of u

West’s decision to make a simple heart raise rather than a pre-emptive jump is eccentric. However, it is hard to fathom which action in the auction is worse — East’s double of four clubs or West’s decision to sit for it!

The opening lead of the knave of hearts was taken with the ace and two rounds of trumps were drawn, ending in dummy. The only problem was the possibility of a 4-1 diamond split, and declarer had a way to handle that. A low diamond to the king won, and declarer now exited with a heart. The defenders could delay the moment of truth by winning the heart and shifting to a spade, but there was a simple counter — declarer simply rose with the ace and returned a spade, not caring which defender won the trick.

No matter whether East or West was now on lead, any plain suit return except for a diamond allows declarer to sluff a diamond from one hand while ruffing in the other. That would have happened had West won the spade. But when East took the trick, the defender could bow the knee in a different way — by exiting with a diamond. Declarer runs that round to dummy’s queen, then leads toward the knave for the fulfilling trick.

2012 Tribune Media Services