BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable. South deals.

NORTH

xK J 6 4 2

u7

vA Q 4 2

wA 8 4

WEST EAST

xQ 10 9 8 7 xVoid

uA Q 8 6 4 uK J 5 3 2

v7 vJ 9

w6 3 wK J 10 9 7 2

SOUTH

xA 5 3

u10 9

vK 10 8 6 5 3

wQ 5

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

Pass Pass 1x 2x*

3v 4u 5v Dbl

All pass

*Hearts and a minor

Opening lead: Ace of u

Some bids in bridge carry subtle additional meanings, well supported by bridge logic. Consider South’s three-diamond bid. Were he not a passed hand, the bid would simply show long diamonds with the values to bid at the three-level. What about as a passed hand? He had already had a chance to open one, two or three diamonds and passed instead. How could he possibly find a three-diamond bid now?

The answer, of course, is that he has a spade fit. His intention was to raise to three spades, showing a long diamond suit on the way. This can often be a huge help to partner in judging further competition. This subtlety seemed to be lost to everyone at the table except South. North bid five diamonds rather than four spades, which is just as well for him. The horrible spade split would defeat a four-spade contract after the normal defense of a heart lead and a club shift.

West was also oblivious to the spade fit. Had he been aware, he could have led a spade to give East a ruff, then given East a second ruff after winning the ace of hearts. On the actual ace of hearts lead, the defense could get a spade ruff or a club trick, but not both.

East’s final double, intended as asking for an unusual lead, backfired terribly. Not only didn’t he get the spade lead that he wanted, the double prevented West from competing to five hearts – a contract that would only need a good club guess to succeed.

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