bridge

bridge

Neither vulnerable. West deals.

NORTH

xA K Q J 10 5 2

u10 9

vA 2

wQ 5

WEST EAST

xVoid x4 3

uA Q J 8 2 uK 6 5 3

vK J 8 6 5 3 v9 7

wK 10 w9 7 6 4 2

SOUTH

x9 8 7 6

u7 4

vQ 10 4

wA J 8 3

The bidding:

WEST NORTH EAST SOUTH

1vDbl Pass 1x

2u 2x 3H 3x

4u 4x Pass Pass

Pass

Opening lead: Ace of u

When last did you see dummy put down 150 honors in the trump suit and have a side-suit ace as well? It happened in the semifinal of the von Zedtwitz Life Masters Pairs at the recent ACBL Summer North American Championships in Philadelphia.

Sitting North on this deal was Mark Itabashi from Murrieta, Calif. He decided his hand was too good for any pre-emptive action so elected to make a takeout double, and was pleasantly surprised to hear his partner respond in spades. Note that, depending on the opening lead, four spades by North might go down.

West led the ace of hearts and continued the suit to his partner’s king. The shift was to the nine of diamonds, taken in dummy with the ace. Next came six rounds of trumps ending in this position:

x2

u —

v2

wQ 5

x — x —

u — u5

vK 8 v7

wK 10 w9 7

x —

u —

vQ 4

wA J

Now dummy’s two of trumps is cashed, declarer parting with his low diamond and West is ruined. At the table he parted with the eight of diamonds, and he was tucked in with the king to lead away from the king of clubs into declarer’s combined club tenace.

2012 Tribune Media Services