bridge

bridge

Both vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xA K 7 6

uK J 10 4

v10 3 2

wK Q

WEST EAST

xQ 5 3 2 xJ 10 9 8

u9 7 6 u8 3 2

v9 8 7 6 5 vK J

w5 wA 10 3 2

SOUTH

x4

uA Q 5

vA Q 4

wJ 9 8 7 6 4

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1w Pass 1u Pass

2u Pass 2x Pass

3w Pass 4w Pass

5w Pass 6w Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Nine of v

Paul and Sandy Trent of Asheville, N.C., have long been among the best and most popular mixed pairs in the tournament world. Here Sandy is at work in the von Zedtwitz Life Master Pairs at the recent ACBL Summer North American Championships held in Philadelphia.

A natural sequence got them to a reasonable club slam — not easy to do when the long suit is a weak minor. West led the nine of diamonds, and Sandy made short work of the slam.

The nine of diamonds went to the king and ace, and a trump was returned to the queen and ace. The knave of diamonds was taken with the queen and a trump to the king revealed the bad news.

Declarer cashed the ace and king of spades, discarding the ace of hearts from hand. A spade was ruffed in the closed hand. Sandy returned to dummy with a heart to the ten and ruffed another spade, bringing about this position:

x —

uK J 4

v10

w —

x — x —

u9 7 u8 5

v8 7 v —

w — w10 3

x —

uQ

v4

wJ 9

Declarer now overtook the queen of hearts with the king in dummy and continued with the knave. Declarer would sluff her diamond if East followed, or overruff if East ruffed. When East did follow, Sandy discarded the four of diamonds, and now the lead of the ten of diamonds allowed declarer to pick up the last two trumps. Well played.

2012 Tribune Media Services