BRIDGE

BRIDGE

East-West vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK 6

uQ 10 5 4

vK 10 9

wA J 5 4

WEST EAST

x10 9 5 2 xA Q J 8 4

u9 8 7 6 3 u2

v8 3 vQ 6 5 4

w7 6 wK Q 3

SOUTH

x7 3

uA K J

vA J 7 2

w10 9 8 2

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1NT Pass 2w Pass

2v Pass 3NT Pass

Pass Pass

Opening lead: Nine of u

The late Irving Rose of London was one of the consummate technicians of his day. Follow him at work on this deal from a club game.

North-South were employing a 12-14 range for an opening bid of one no trump. Two clubs inquired for major suits and three no trump was the logical game.

West led the nine of hearts, and declarer was faced with a host of options. One line was to cash four heart winners to see what discards, if any, were forthcoming. Another was to take two finesses in clubs. Looking at all the hands, another was to play East for the queen of diamonds and end up with four tricks in each red suit and the ace of clubs. Declarer ignored them all.

Rose won the first trick in hand with the king and led a diamond to the nine, losing to the queen. While this surrendered a diamond trick, East did not relish being on lead. It was obvious that West did not have a high card, so spades could not be attacked since dummy’s king might be the fulfilling trick. East therefore exited safely with a diamond. Declarer won in dummy with the king, came to hand with the jack of diamonds and only now ran the ten of clubs to East’s queen. East, a gentleman to the core, conceded because, even if he exited with a diamond, declarer would have to collect seven tricks in the red suits and either two clubs or a spade and a club. Declarer had scored his game despite the ace of spades and both the club honors being offside.

2013 Tribune Media Services