BRIDGE

BRIDGE

Neither vulnerable, South deals.

NORTH

x7 5

uK Q J 7 3

v8 3

wQ 4 3 2

WEST

xQ J 8 3

u10 8 2

vJ 9 6 5 2

w7

The bidding:

SOUTH WEST NORTH EAST

6w Pass Pass Dbl

All pass

Opening lead: Queen of x

Before looking at the other hands, decide how you would continue as West after the queen of spades lead wins the first trick.

This was the actual problem faced by two defenders during the British Trials some years ago. At the table, both defenders, thinking they were on to something good with spades, continued with another spade. This was the full layout:

NORTH

x7 5

uK Q J 7 3

v8 3

wQ 4 3 2

WEST EAST

xQ J 8 3 xK 9 4

u10 8 2 uA 9 6 5 4

vJ 9 6 5 2 vA K 10 7 4

w7 wVoid

SOUTH

xA 10 6 2

uVoid

vQ

wA K J 10 9 8 6 5

Declarer won the second spade, drew the outstanding trump, and crossed to dummy with a spade ruff. The king of hearts was led for a successful ruffing finesse against East’s ace. East covered, declarer ruffed, and crossed back to dummy with another spade ruff. The queen of hearts provided a parking place for the diamond loser and South scored up the slam!

Should the West players have found the diamond switch at trick two? We think they should have. Declarer’s bidding was certainly a bit wild, but surely he didn’t have two quick losers in any one suit. A second spade couldn’t work. Should partner have a heart trick, it can’t go away, but a diamond loser could be discarded on dummy’s hearts.

2016 Tribune Content Agency