BRIDGE

BRIDGE

North-South vulnerable, South deals.

NORTH

xA 3

uK 9 7 2

v9 8 4

wJ 7 5 4

WEST EAST

xJ 9 5 2 x8

uA Q 6 u10 8 4 3

v6 3 2 vK Q 10 7 5

wQ 8 3 w10 6 2

SOUTH

xK Q 10 7 6 4

uJ 5

vA J

wA K 9

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

1x Pass 1NT Pass

3x Pass 4x All pass

Opening lead: Three of v

The opening diamond lead went to the queen and ace. Needing to build a heart trick, South led the jack of hearts at trick two. West rose with his ace and continued with the six of diamonds to East’s king. East shifted accurately to a club, won by declarer with the ace.

South now led a spade to the ace and made the farsighted play of ruffing dummy’s last diamond. He now cashed the king of spades, getting the bad news that he had a certain trump loser. Certain? Not so fast. South led a heart to the board’s king and ruffed a heart. This was followed by the king and another club. West had to win this with the queen, and declarer’s play of ruffing dummy’s last diamond paid off. In this two-card ending, West was forced to lead a spade away from his jack into declarer’s queen-10. Nicely played! Rather than end-playing West in clubs, South could have led the queen and another spade, forcing West to lead away from the queen of clubs.

The defense could have prevailed against four spades. Can you spot how? West could have simply covered the jack of hearts with the queen at trick two. South would not have had the entries he needed to ruff twice in his hand, and East would have had two entries to lead clubs through declarer. Would you have found that play?

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