bridge

bridge

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA 3 2

uQ 10 9 3

vJ 7 5 2

wK 8

WEST EAST

x10 8 7 5 4 x9 6

u7 6 5 uK 8 4 2

vVoid vQ 10 9 6

wJ 9 7 3 2 w10 6 4

SOUTH

xK Q J

uA J

vA K 8 4 3

wA Q 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

2w Pass 2v Pass

2NT Pass 3w Pass

3v Pass 4NT Pass

6NT Pass Pass Pass

Opening lead: Five of x

Declaring six no trump, how would you tackle the diamond suit on this deal? The answer is that you do not know! First, you have to find out how many diamond tricks you need.

South’s first two bids showed a balanced hand of 22-24 points. Switch one of the black queens for the queen of diamonds, however, and the trick-taking power of the five-card suit would make three no trump the value bid. Since six hearts could easily be the superior slam, North’s three clubs was a Stayman inquiry and, when South denied a four-card major, North issued a slam invitation by jumping to four no trump. With no agreed suit this was not ace-asking.

After the lead of a low spade, declarer has nine fast tricks. If diamonds are 2-2 or the queen is singleton, that suit will produce the three additional tricks needed. However, declarer might not need five diamond tricks to get home. If the king of hearts is with East, only four diamond tricks are needed and a safety play is available to protect against a 4-0 split in that suit. To accomplish that, however, declarer must make maximum use of his dummy entries.

The key to the hand is to win the first trick with the ace of spades and immediately lead the queen of hearts. If this loses to the king, you will have to drop the diamond queen to get home.

When the queen of hearts wins, declarer can take a safety play in diamonds. A low diamond is led from dummy.

If East shows out, declarer rises with the ace and leads up to the jack to assure four tricks. If East follows low, declarer inserts the eight and again there are four tricks in the suit whether West wins or shows out.

If East puts up the nine or ten, declarer’s foresight in preserving a dummy entry will reap rich rewards. Declarer wins with the king and, when West shows out, continues with a low diamond to the jack.

Now declarer can win any return, cross to the table with the king of clubs and take the marked diamond finesse for 12 tricks.

2012 Tribune Media Services